A wave of strikes is spreading across Europe. Due to rising energy prices, higher costs and in France the increase in the retirement age, workers in almost all of Europe have been laid off.
In Germany, everything froze at the airports, bus and train stations. As a result, millions of Germans in the country have started their working week. It is one of the largest strikes in Germany in decades. Workers are lobbying to absorb higher wages, which is the result of inflation that was 9.3% in February. Before the war in Ukraine, Germany was still heavily dependent on Russia for gas, for which it is now looking for other energy sources.
France
In neighboring France, too, he has long been restless on the streets. Protests turned violent when Frenchman Emmanuel Macron pushed the pensions bill through parliament.
Due to union actions, refineries in France are also suffering the consequences. Gas stations across the country are running out of fuel. Liquefied natural gas terminals, power supply and nuclear reactor maintenance were also affected.
Great Britain
The UK government has been embroiled in wage disputes across sectors as workers demand higher wages to keep pace with rising inflation. Security staff at London’s Heathrow airport have voted for a 10-day strike. 1400 employees joined this strike. Moreover, more than three thousand British civil servants in four government departments will be made redundant from April 11 over disputes over wages, pensions and job security, the trade and public services union says.
As in these countries, some employees in the Dutch sectors are also being made redundant. The company has gone on strike to demand an improvement in the collective bargaining agreement, for example, the staff want a wage increase and a reduction in the pressure at work. A second strike follows in April. Regional transport laid moreover, the work is carried out in different regions. The staff fought for better working conditions.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
