The decision on whether troops will be deployed has not yet been made, according to a statement from Number 10, although personnel “are among the possibilities available should strike action in these locations go as planned.”
Nadhim Zahawi, chairman of the Conservative Party, has revealed that the government is considering sending the military to assist in mitigating any potential strike disruptions over the holiday season.
Mr. Zahawi told that under the proposals, military soldiers might be “driving ambulances” and working on UK borders.
The head of the Conservative Party also stated that pharmacists will be called upon to help break the NHS strike, stating, “We must be able to provide patients with safe levels of care and support.”
“We must attempt to minimize interruption,” he continued.
Fears of Christmas disruption have prompted the government to train military personnel, civil officials, and volunteers to help a variety of services, including the Border Force at airports and ports.
The decision on whether troops will be deployed has not yet been made, according to a statement from Number 10, although personnel “are among the possibilities available should strike action in these locations go as planned.”
This winter, the United Kingdom will experience a wave of strikes that will impact services such as transportation, the National Health Service, education, and delivery drivers.
As a result of the recession and cost-of-living crises gripping the United Kingdom, tens of thousands of workers are likely to engage in industrial action.
Mr. Zahawi stated, “Now is not the moment to strike”
“If you pursue inflation or above inflation, and in some circumstances compensate for it, then you will embed inflation for a longer period and harm the most vulnerable,” he said.
“Our message to the unions is that this is not the time to strike. Now is the moment to compromise.
“In its absence, it is essential for the government. Having contingency plans in place is the appropriate and ethical thing to do.”
He continued, “We are considering the military, a specialized response force, and surge capacity.”
In the event of strike action, around 2,000 military personnel and public servants are being prepared to support a variety of services, including the Border Force at airports and ports.
These include up to 600 members of the military forces, 700 members of the government’s specialized surge and quick reaction team, and other members of the civil service.
The Cabinet Office stated in a news release, “Decisions on the deployment of troops to these jobs have not yet been made, but they are among the possibilities available should strike action in these locations go as planned.”
In the coming weeks, protecting the public who may need access to emergency services support and minimizing disruptions as much as possible will be a top priority, especially during the holiday season when more people will be traveling and NHS services will be under enormous strain due to the impact of COVID.
During the epidemic, military soldiers were previously assigned to drive gasoline tankers and provide COVID vaccinations.
Pat Cullen, general secretary, and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, rejected Mr. Zahawi’s request that the union abandons its salary claim due to the conflict in Ukraine.
“This government has reached a new low by using Russia’s war in Ukraine as justification for a real-terms pay decrease for nurses in the United Kingdom. The public disbelieves this type of speech and desires that ministers address our problem “She stated,
“The nursing staff cannot afford their meals and other obligations, and they continue to anticipate the worse for this winter’s heating costs. But our campaign is about more than the current cost-of-living problem; it is a plea for assistance for a decade-neglected NHS. As a result of feeling devalued, a record number of nurses are abandoning their positions, and patients are suffering the price.
“I restate my commitment to meet with ministers to discuss our dispute ten days before our strike action is scheduled to commence. Instead of negotiating with nurses, they have elected to go on strike.”
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary for Labour, could not clarify whether her party would increase public sector wages in line with inflation.
