Strikes have disrupted the lives of millions – with walkouts by teachers hitting people hardest, a survey has revealed.
Some 27 percent felt the impact of widespread industrial action during the last two weeks of March.
The most common complaints were dependent children not being able to attend school (27 percent), followed by not being able to attend school, college or university (17 percent).
A loss of leisure activities affected 16 percent of over-16s, the Office for National Statistics poll found.
Alongside teachers, walkouts have been staged by protesting junior doctors, paramedics, Passport Office staff, Heathrow security staff and university lecturers.
Now the Communication Workers Union – which represents 115,000 postal workers – is poised for fresh industrial action.
Further misery for those in education is also expected, after teaching unions knocked back a pay offer – and announced they will strike over five more days.
The Government put forward a £1,000 one-off payment for teachers in the current school year – and an average 4.5 percent pay rise for staff for the academic year starting in September.
Rejecting this, the National Education Union announced strikes on April 27, May 2 and three days in June or July to empty out classrooms.
A re-ballot of teacher members in England on further industrial action is expected over exam season.
From April 11 next week, junior doctors are planning to abandon patients and down tools for four days – their longest walkout so far.
After medics refused to budge on demands for a 35 percent pay rise, officials say the timing of their walkout just after the Easter Bank Holiday has left hospitals in “uncharted territory”.
A quarter of a million operations and appointments could be cancelled – while the senior consultants who provided cover during the first round of strikes are likely to be unavailable due to holiday commitments.
Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers which represents NHS trusts, said: “The challenges here are unprecedented.”
