LONDON (Reuters) -Hundreds of security staff at Britain’s parliament are set to strike over conditions and pay for two days this month, their trade union said on Tuesday.
After winning an election last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party government promised to end a wave of strikes by teachers, railway workers and doctors which caused disruption in 2023-2024.
But industrial action has returned this summer at a time of high inflation, which reached its highest in 18 months in July when it increased to 3.8%.
Resident doctors in England walked out for five days in July, while London’s Tube network will next week be hit by strikes.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will bring the strike action to the Palace of Westminster on September 3 and 10, when its members walk out over issues including pay and annual leave.
A spokesperson for parliament said it was working with London’s Metropolitan Police to implement contingency plans to ensure safety and avoid disruption, adding it remained committed to working closely with staff to find a resolution.
“The decision to proceed with strike action is a disappointing outcome, following months of continued engagement to try to resolve outstanding concerns,” the spokesperson said.
(Reporting by Helena Williams, editing by Sarah Young and Sachin Ravikumar)
