UK to enter Christmas, New Year amid fresh strikes
December 24, 2022, 7:05 am

UK to enter Christmas, New Year amid fresh strikes

Everyday life in London city, UK (Photo: Pixabay)

In a run-up to Christmas and New Year, the UK has been facing a fresh wave of strikes hitting the country, sparked by a bitter cost-of-living crisis triggered by soaring inflation and a deteriorating economy.

Both unionized and non-unionized workers across Britain went on strike in the summer, and with the negative impact of Brexit, COVID-19, and lately the Russia-Ukraine war, the cost-of-living crisis has just got worse, causing more strikes during winter.

The UK's border staff at airports joined strikes on Friday, with hundreds of thousands of air passengers being warned of possible disruptions in the coming day.

Industrial action, which will take place from Friday to Monday, and again from Wednesday to Saturday, will have a negative impact on London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, and Glasgow airports.

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The members of the UK's biggest rail union will also go on a strike after their demand for an above-inflation pay rise was rejected by the government.

The walkout by railway workers that started in the summer still continues, with about 40,000 staff members across Network Rail set to stage strike action from 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, on Saturday, Dec. 24, until 5.59 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

The Royal Mail staff will stage a strike as well, including members of the Communication Workers Union who collect, sort, and deliver parcels and letters.

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Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing announced further strikes by nurses in England on Jan. 18-19, saying, "Once again, we offered talks. Once again ministers refused to get round the table. Once again nursing staff are left with no choice."

Union leaders warned of a "huge escalation" of public sector strikes if pay offers do not improve.

Public and Commercial Services Union Secretary General Mark Serwotka told BBC Radio 4's Today program on Friday: "We have a strike fund that means we can sustain this action after Christmas. The strike mandate lasts right up until May – we will be supporting this action until May and we would reballot again if we have to."

Source: aa

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”