Unusual inflation in Europe widens wave of strikes

It should be noted that the strike wave has spread in recent months as workers demand higher wages to offset rising cost of living with unusually high inflation in Europe.

Despite the most aggressive monetary policy tightening in central bank history and falling energy prices, “persistent inflation” that cannot recover remains a problem.

The prices of food, raw materials, energy and other basic necessities remain high in many European countries due to the decrease in problems in the supply chain after the Covid-19 epidemic and the effect of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

After many years of very low inflation rates, persistently high inflation is increasing the cost of living for people in European economies by the day.

Especially low and middle income people face very high food prices. Employees are demanding wage increases in the face of high inflation.

Energy prices drove inflation to an all-time high of more than 10 percent in 19 countries that use the euro late last year, while the cost-of-living crisis is hitting workers across the continent.

While unions in Europe are demanding above-inflation wage increases, it’s hard for people to buy the things they need, so they have no choice but to hit the streets.

As Europeans see energy bills and food prices skyrocket due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, strikes demanding wage increases or good working conditions are a response to high inflation made worse by the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Workers continue to demand high wages against high inflation, although governments continue to take new measures to mitigate the impact of rising food and energy prices and other costs for citizens.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is concerned that a spiral of wages and prices similar to the one experienced in the 1970s could unfold. Prices rise, forcing workers to demand higher wages, forcing companies to to raise prices to protect their profits, which causes even more inflation.

STRIKE AFFECTS TRAVEL

It is claimed that while the number of passengers at airports began to return to pre-epidemic levels of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19), strikes in Europe may cause chaos until the summer vacation period.

While people began to travel again with the effects of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic abating since last year, a lack of staff at European airports caused chaos during the summer vacation period. with the cancellation of thousands of flights. In countries where there was a shortage of personnel in the airline industry, travel had increasingly become “torture”.

STRIKE WAVE IN GERMANY

It should be noted that a wave of strikes spread this year as German workers demand higher wages to offset the rising cost of living in the face of high inflation.

The 48-hour warning strike by security staff at German airports in Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf, which began on April 20, brought most flights to a standstill, while flight cancellations affected more than 100,000 passengers.

The United Union of the Service Industry (Ver.di) called on the security guards at Stuttgart airport to stop working today.

The German Business Union for Mining, Chemicals and Energy (IG BCE) and Ver.di called private sector employees in the energy field for a one-day warning collective strike on April 20 against high inflation.

The German Railway Workers’ Union (EVG) has called on railway workers to hold an 8-hour collective warning strike on April 21 to force the German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) to improve their wages.

After failing to reach an agreement in the third round of negotiations on pay increases in the public sector accompanied by massive warning strikes in Germany, the parties turned to arbitration and now the mediators are seeking a solution on pay increases.

On the other hand, in the 24-hour warning strike led by Ver.di and the German Railway Workers’ Union (EVG) on March 27 in the transport sector, most plane, train and bus services were shut down. paralyzed, paralyzing transportation. in the country.

STRIKE IN SPAIN STARTED WITH LIVING STRIKE

The strikes, which began with increasing livelihood problems caused by high inflation in Spain, are most effective in the health, court and transport sectors. Health workers first took to the streets to demand a wage increase in the country.

Although some of the doctors’ strikes in many autonomous administrations such as Madrid, Andalusia, Galicia, Catalonia and the Basques have ended, some still continue.

The doctors, who left their posts at certain times starting in November 2022 in Madrid, ended the strike by getting a salary increase of between 450 and 950 with the agreement they reached with the regional administration in mid-March.

While court workers went on strike with similar problems, the court clerks’ strike between January 24 and March 27 ended with an average raise of 600 euros. Judicial officials, like clerks, went on indefinite strike on April 17, demanding a salary increase.

Strikes are also observed in air, rail and road transport. In the Galicia region and in some cities such as Zaragoza and Alicante, bus drivers have announced that they will leave work on different days.

Finally, the pilots of the airline Air Europa decided to go on strike from May 1 to 4 because their demands for a salary increase were not met.

PORTUGAL

In Portugal, the other country on the Iberian Peninsula, the demands for salary increases are observed mainly among public employees in the education, health and transport sectors. Teachers, health workers and railway workers in the country have been on strike for the last 3-4 months, trying to make their voices heard with the demonstrations they organize.

Despite the fact that the leftist government increased the salaries of civil servants by 52 euros (3.6%) to 2,600 euros gross and increased the minimum wage by 8 percent in 2023, the unions continue their protests, pointing out that inflation has risen to 8.4 percent. .

ENGLAND

In the UK, which is facing the highest inflation rates in 41 years, there has been a surge in protests in the second half of last year, featuring strikes and demands for raises.

The main demand of public and private employees from many sectors, who protested the salary rates, personal rights and working conditions offered by the government, is that the proposed increase be above inflation, which exceeds 10 percent. .

Among the participants in the action to Stop the work.

Especially in February and March, in the country where many sectors left their jobs with two big strikes, the railway workers’ strike for 4 days in March caused an unprecedented transportation chaos in the country.

Despite the number of thousands of nurses and 70,000 general practitioners, who went on strike in shifts to prevent patients from being affected by the strike, the strikes by passport office workers, which is a key sector, caused the disruption of many travel plans.

Separately, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in England announced that security staff at London Heathrow airport will go on strike for a further 8 days in May.

PCS also announced that passport control staff will go on strike from April 3 to May 5 at most UK airports, including London, Liverpool and Glasgow. Border Force personnel at airports are also expected to go on strike on April 28. (AA)