Rail services in France and the UK were hit hard this Saturday by strikes by unions in sectors of both countries to demand higher wages, making it harder for traveling passengers to spend holidays with their families.

FRANCE
In the case of France, the high-speed train (TGV) stops leaving this Saturday, the second day of the national rail company SNCF conductors’ strike, increased compared to Friday.

However, an agreement between the company’s management and the union stopped the protest action which was scheduled for the following weekend, coinciding with the New Year.

After the cancellation of a third of trains on Friday, it is expected that this Saturday and Sunday there will be a 40% cancellation of the route.

On French stations, passengers tried to reconcile respect for the right to strike with resentment over the date of the protest.

“They’re breaking down for a reason, I get it, but not during everyone’s holidays. We’ve had enough stress already.”complained Inga Skripkina, 41, at the Lille Flandres station in the north of the country, according to a testimony to the AFP news agency.

Given inflation, the reviewers are calling for a new pay increase that goes beyond the 12% increase that was negotiated and will be implemented in the next two years, according to firm SNCF.

Annual inflation is around 6% in France, a lower level than many other European countries.

GREAT BRITAIN
Meanwhile, in the UK, the Network Rail company offered the National Maritime, Rail and Transport Union (RMT) a 5% wage increase this year, but was turned down as workers demanded a 7% increase, as inflation in the country exceeds 10% per year.

In this context, employees of the sector decide not to work from 15 local timedespite the fact that Christmas Eve is traditionally one of the busiest days of the year.

This measure of strength was added to that of the UK Border Police, which on Friday started a eight-day strike at six of Britain’s biggest airportsin demands for a pay rise and amid fears that the move would lead to disruption and gridlock over the Christmas days.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, employed by the Home Office, began the strike on Friday at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, followed by people in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester, apart from the port of Newhaven, in the south of England .

The size of the force is decided after rejecting a 2% salary increase.a fifth of what the union demands (10%).

The country was hit by a wave of social protest magnitude not seen in decades.

However, the government was not flexible in dealing with workers’ demands.

The general secretary of the PCS union, Marck Serwotka, warned about that there will be an “increase” of official strikes in January if the government refuses to negotiate.

That postal clerk (Royal Mail) also joined the strike, causing delivery delays. Another strike will also take place in rail transport.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the health it was also hit by strikes by nurses and ambulance personnel.