Info on current strikes and tourists

Forget about train travel the day of the strikes as practically none run. At present, there is no settlement in sight, but you are talking of a month away, so progress could be made.

Start watching the news on the hour on Sky News via their website or their Roku app.

Or you could watch BBC World News every evening on PBS but it won't go into such details.

Sky has a useful calendar infographic where they use colors for the various strikes which often overlap.

Basically there's nothing you can do so use Travel Rule #1 have a plan and be prepared to toss it every morning. Also realize the strikes are also subject to change.

I'm currently in the UK and have been here awhile. There are numerous strikes here and there.

For most public sector workers--train, tube, border force--they have to give at least 14 days notice of any strike days. That helps the public plan. They also voted to continue intermittent action for the next six months if they don't get a deal.

I monitor the BBC News website and click on "UK" news. That's where they talk about the strikes

I leave next week and return the beginning of April. I don't let strikes ruin my trips.

It really depends on what you are doing and where you are going. If you are staying in London, remember the underground/tube are not the trains we're talking about.

If you are able to receive the Metro - a free morning newspaper throughout the UK, but somewhat with a London focus, with a good online news presence - it runs what it calls a Strike Advent Calendar which shows which nationwide strikes are happening each day, colour coded.

Here is this morning's - https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/29/whos-on-strike-today-and-how-will-it-affect-you-december-29-update-18007670/

Is this article available overseas? (I have no way of knowing if you can see it)

Yes, thanks, Nigel.

I have a question about UK labor strikes. Here in the US, labor strikes are AFAIK open-ended. When the workers walk out on strike, the strike continues until the dispute is resolved. Which could be days, or weeks, or even longer.

But it seems that the UK labor strikes of which I've known, have been for one or more specific days. Of course any strike is disruptive, but if it's for a specific day or days, at least one can try to plan around it. As opposed to the open-ended nature of strikes here in the US.

Are there UK strikes that once they start, keep on going until the parties come to an agreement? Or are they all - or mostly - for designated day(s)?

Thanks in advance for any information. I know we don't need to take a deep dive off-topic into labor practices in this forum. But I believe my question is on a specific point that is helpful to me as a traveler, to understand what a "strike" is likely to mean in the country I'm visiting.

Yes they could be indefinite. This pattern is designed for disruption but also maintaining some income for the other days worked.

One of the problems is the Government has no interest in getting these disputes settled
They think they can get political capital by letting them fester
The trade unions are seen as supporters of the Labour Party and vice versa. Indeed they do support the Labour Party financially

Thanks, Marco.