Practically 4 million working days misplaced to strikes in previous yr, says assume tank
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spherical 3.9 million working days have been misplaced to industrial motion prior to now yr, greater than at any level for the reason that Nineteen Eighties, in line with new analysis.
Many of the strikes have been fuelled by real-terms falls in pay of greater than 9% within the highly-unionised public sector, mentioned the Resolution Foundation.
Sectors together with well being, training, the postal companies and railways have been liable for 96% of all days misplaced to strike motion since 2021, mentioned the assume tank.
Its report, launched as junior medical doctors proceed a four-day walkout, mentioned excessive inflation meant common weekly pay for all employees was 4.1% decrease in actual phrases within the three months to May than it was in the identical quarter in 2021.
But real-terms pay for public sector employees fell by 9.2% over the identical interval and for these in well being and social care it fell by 9.8%, the examine indicated.
The inflation-driven pay squeeze also needs to be understood as a part of a broader sample of poor pay development throughout each the private and non-private sectors
The Foundation mentioned the strikes weren’t nearly pay, warning that working situations, exhaustion and stress additionally performed an necessary half.
The public sector pay squeeze additionally seems to have contributed to an improve in vacancies, with these in well being, training and public administration 33% increased in March than in December 2019, in contrast with 23% increased throughout the remainder of the financial system, mentioned the report.
Nye Cominetti, senior economist on the Resolution Foundation, mentioned: “The recent strikes from teachers and junior doctors reflect the fact that real-terms public sector pay has fallen severely in the past few years, as well as the stress and difficult workplace conditions frequently reported by workers in these sectors.
“However, the inflation-driven pay squeeze should also be understood as part of a broader pattern of poor pay growth across both the public and private sectors, and falling pay satisfaction among public sector workers.
“Going forwards, the Government will need to balance fiscal caution with the need to provide a level of pay for public sector workers that reflects the very real difficulties faced by workers in these sectors, and ensures that vacancies in these sectors continue to be filled.
“In addition, there should also be a renewed focus on improving pay and working conditions for workers in essential sectors like social care, that are largely not unionised, but which are still experiencing the effects of job stresses and pay squeezes.”