British, Dutch workers go on strike over pay dispute, rising inflation

Thousands of workers at the British Royal Mail began their four-day strike over a pay dispute with the company on Friday, the same day Dutch railway workers announced their strike in the western part of the country to seek pay increases.

Workers at both organizations demand higher wages to compensate for sky-rocketing inflation that is projected to cross the 13 percent mark this year.

"We are going to fight very hard here to get the pay rise our members deserve," Communication Workers Union General Secretary at the Royal Mail, Dave Ward, was quoted as saying by Sky News.

The 500-year-old postal service had offered the union a pay rise offer of up to 5.5 percent that the union rejected.

“We can’t keep on living in a country where bosses rake in billions in profit while their employees are forced to use food banks,” complained Ward.

The postal strike is being called the “biggest industrial action of the summer” so far, as Britain has already seen mass walkouts across its transport network, Felixstowe's port, and the courts over the past year.

With inflation set to rise to 13 percent later this year, and the energy price cap hitting £3,549 in October, Ward said there can be "no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.”

London transport network comes to grinding halt amid strike over pay, conditions

London

"Royal Mail is a company that society wants to exist... but we need this change so we can turn into a parcels business so we can flourish," Royal Mail Chief Executive Simon Thompson was quoted as saying by BBC Radio, arguing that the business needs to change working practices to survive.

In the Netherlands, the unions warned to continue the strikes till September if the Dutch Railways (NS) does not comply with their demands. 

Their demands are for a one-time payment of 600 euros (600 US dollars), and a permanent increase of 100 Euros in their monthly salary.

NS railway operator said the company is dealing with "a tight labor market, rising prices, and lagging passenger numbers."

It warned about traffic disruptions in the Netherlands and on international routes, urging people to "use other transportation or postpone your trip".

In Germany, a strike of ground personnel at carrier Lufthansa cost 35 million Euros, leading to the cancellation of a thousand flights, affecting 134,000 passengers.

The aviation sector strike in Spain since the beginning of the month has also led to the cancellation of many flights, causing disruptions for passengers and losses for the country’s tourism sector.

Europe is facing hardest of times with soaring prices of goods. In the coming months, more strikes are expected to break out.

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