The size of the harm from the wave of strikes was laid naked right this moment because it emerged the UK has misplaced greater than 1.1million working days since June.
The grim tally, revealed within the newest official figures, is the worst for a five-month interval since 1990.
In October alone, 417,000 days have been missed – with the numbers set to develop because the disputes have ramped up once more since then.
The main points got here as Transport Secretary Mark Harper lambasted rail unions for staging their newest walkout. He stated the federal government and prepare working corporations have been being ‘cheap’ and providing pay rises consistent with the personal sector.
The size of the harm from the wave of strikes was laid naked right this moment because it emerged the UK has misplaced greater than 1.1million working days since June
Transport Secretary Mark Harper lambasted rail unions for staging their newest walkout
The Workplace for Nationwide Statistics disclosed that the times misplaced to strikes was up dramatically from the 209,000 recorded in September – when some motion was delayed because of the Queen’s loss of life.
The October determine was the best in additional than a decade, since practically one million employees walked out in November 2011 as the federal government pushed by austerity measures.
In a spherical of interviews this morning, Mr Harper stated a ‘truthful and cheap provide’ had been made to rail employees.
‘One of many unions accepted that provide – Unite employees have accepted it, the TSSA have beneficial acceptance and we’ll get their poll outcomes later this week.
‘However the RMT have refused to take action and I might name on them to look once more at this provide and and settle for it.
‘And it is attention-grabbing of their poll yesterday, solely simply over half of their workforce really rejected it – virtually 40 per cent of their workforce, even with a really clear instruction from their union management, really voted in favour of it.
‘So I feel the tide is popping on folks seeing that the presents we’ve made are cheap, making an allowance for each the travelling public but additionally the curiosity of taxpayers.’
In the meantime, the ONS figures confirmed complete wages throughout the economic system declining by 3.9 per cent a 12 months within the quarter to October, taking CPI inflation into consideration.
That was the worst determine because the aftermath of the credit score crunch in 2009.
Unemployment ticked as much as 3.7 per cent and there are indicators that struggling older individuals are returning to the roles market.
The proportion classed as ‘economically inactive’ decreased by 0.2 proportion factors. Job jacancies additionally dipped barely, though they continue to be at a traditionally excessive stage, reflecting the tightness within the labour market.
October was additionally the worst month for industrial motion in additional than a decade, with 417,000 days misplaced.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stated the grim figures confirmed ‘tough choices’ are wanted, warning that demanding big pay rises will solely ‘delay the ache for everybody’ by embedding inflation.
Individuals looking for trains to board at Paddington Station in London right this moment
An RMT union picket line at a snowy Upminster station in London right this moment
