London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jun 25, 2026

Who is still striking and which disputes are resolved?

Who is still striking and which disputes are resolved?

Industrial action has been taking place across the country for months, as various sectors have been at loggerheads with their employers over pay and conditions.

But where have we got to in the different disputes? And are more strike dates upcoming?

Take a look at our guide below:

Junior doctors

Status of the dispute: Unresolved

Future strike dates: To be confirmed


Junior doctors have held two rounds of strike action in their ongoing dispute over pay and conditions, with up to 47,000 members taking industrial action.

The group of staff - which includes any qualified hospital doctor below consultant level - says their wages have fallen 26% in the last 15 years, with newly qualified medics making less than a barista in a coffee shop.

Their union, the British Medical Association (BMA), is demanding a 35% rise to restore their pay to 2008/09 levels and take into account record high inflation.

Health secretary Steve Barclay has accused junior doctors of taking a "militant stance", and called their pay demands "unreasonable".

The government has said it is willing to talk to the BMA about a resolution but only if they call off strikes - a measure the union is unwilling to accept.

More strikes are expected, though dates have yet to be confirmed.

Other NHS staff

Status of the dispute: Partially resolved

Future strike dates: To be confirmed

For other staff in the NHS, including nurses and ambulance workers, the picture is a bit more mixed.

Back in March, the Royal College of Nursing, GMB and Unison reached an agreement with the government over a pay offer, which would see a one-off payment to staff for last year and a 5% pay increase for 2023/24.

Unite said the offer wasn't good enough, but joined the other three unions in putting it to their members.

And while GMB and Unison accepted the deal, RCN and Unite members rejected the offer.

The deal has now been accepted by the NHS staff council, where all the unions gather, and will be implemented by the government.

But Unite said the decision "does not override the members' vote", meaning it could stage further walk-outs. and the RCN is planning to re-ballot their members and carry out further strikes.

No dates have been set, but RCN boss Pat Cullen told Sky News the industrial action could go on "up until Christmas", demanding the health secretary gets back round the table to negotiate.

Mr Barclay said the fact the council has accepted the deal shows it is "fair and reasonable", and called on the other unions to bring the walk-outs to an end.

Teachers

Status of the dispute: Unresolved

Future strike dates: Autumn term


The position of teachers and school leaders appears to be more aligned, after initial splits across the profession.

Earlier this year, only the National Education Union (NEU) reached the threshold to carry out strike action over working conditions and pay, but it still saw 200,000 teachers stage walk-outs - with almost 45% of state schools being impacted.

After holding negotiations with the government, the NEU put an offer to its members of a £1,000 payment for the current school year plus an average 4.5% rise next year.

But members overwhelmingly rejected it, with 98% of those who voted going against the offer, saying between 42% and 58% of schools would have to make cuts to afford it.

Now, the Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and NASUWT will re-ballot their members, along with the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), which is asking its members whether they want to strike for the first time in its history.

The bosses of the four unions vowed coordinated action if they got the go ahead.

A Department for Education spokesperson said the plan was "unreasonable and disproportionate, especially given the impact the pandemic has already had on [children's] learning".

Strike dates have yet to be confirmed as the ballots are taking place over the summer term, but they are expected to take place come autumn.

University staff

Status of the dispute: Ongoing

Future strike dates: Ongoing marking boycott

More than 70,000 members of the University and College Union (UCU) staged strikes throughout February and March over pay, pensions and working conditions.

A child holds a placard alongside UCU lecturers on the picket line outside the University of Birmingham.


Staff wanted a higher pay offer than the 4% to 5% put on the table, as well as a reversal of the cuts to pensions that will see the average member lose 35% of their guaranteed future retirement income, according to the union.

But so far, their employers haven't budged.

On 20 April, staff decided to use a new tactic - boycotting marking and assessments until a better offer is made - and this action is ongoing.

Train drivers


Status of the dispute: Partially resolved

Future strike dates: 12, 13, 31 May and 3 June

The longest running of the disputes with government over pay and conditions falls to the railways - though with a mixture of staff and unions, some disputes have been settled while others roll on.

Signal workers and maintenance staff represented by the RMT voted in favour of an agreement with Network Rail in March for a 5% pay rise for last year and a 4% pay rise for next, backdated by three months.

However, train drivers represented by the Aslef union and other rail staff workers represented by the RMT have refused offers on the table from the Rail Delivery Group - representing the 14 train companies involved - as they would have to call off strike action before negotiations for the current year could take place.

Both unions have now confirmed fresh strike dates, clashing with the FA Cup final and the Eurovision Song Contest, and say they will carrying on their walk-outs until the pay offers reflect inflation and the rising cost of living.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper called the decision "deeply disappointing", especially in light of the song contest being held in Liverpool due to the war in Ukraine, accusing the unions of "targeting" those attending.

Civil servants


Status of the dispute: Unresolved

Future strike dates: 2, 3, 5, 6 and 10 May, and 7 June

The civil service covers a huge range of staff, from cleaners at departmental buildings through top officials in the Cabinet Office.

But a large number of them are unhappy about their pay, and have been staging strikes for months, from passport offices in Glasgow to border posts in Dover.

Whitehall has been told it can offer staff a 4.5% raise - with scope for an extra 0.5% "targeted at lower pay bands" if they deemed it necessary.

But unions criticised the lack of a one-off payment - as offered to those working in health and education - and said the offer was made in the absence of substantial talks.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union have planned walk-outs until their ballot runs out at midnight on 6 May, with staff striking in passport offices, at the Department of Work and Pensions and within the Care Quality Commission.

But they are hoping to get approval from members for further industrial action, which could see the Border Force, DVLA are other civil service staff strike again.

The Prospect union, which represents "specialist, technical, professional, managerial and scientific staff in departments including the Met Office, the Health and Safety Executive and Natural England, are staging further walk-outs in May and June.

And the FDA union has decided to ballot its members to go on strike, with plans for a single national day of action.

Royal Mail


Status of the dispute: Partially resolved

Future strike dates: Uncertain


The Communication Workers Union had been locked in a dispute with Royal Mail since last year, with members staging 18 days of strikes in the second half of 2022 over pay, jobs and conditions - hitting Christmas deliveries in particular.

Members were fighting proposed modernisation plans they claimed would "spell the end" of Royal Mail and wanted an improved pay deal on the "best and final" 9% offer they rejected last year.

Members of the Communication Workers Union hold a rally in Parliament Square as Royal Mail workers mark another strike in the increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.


The CWU secured a fresh mandate for more strikes but, after bringing in the conciliation service Acas and former TUC general secretary Sir Brendan Barber, the two sides reached an agreement in principle in April.

The executive of the union is now sharing the offer with its representatives before it is offered to members for a vote - so while the strikes are off for now, it may depend on the response of Royal Mail workers.

Firefighters


Status of the dispute: Resolved

Future strike dates: None


Back in January, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) voted overwhelmingly for strike action, saying they had experienced more than a decade of real-terms pay cuts, and that the 2% pay rise on offer was not enough.

Firefighters threatened to strike over their pay, but a settlement was reached.


Had the strike gone ahead, it would have been the service's first national walk-out in 20 years.

But the offer jumped to 12% in March, and FBU members voted in favour of the deal, meaning the strike never went ahead.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Energy Price Volatility Reinforces Pressure for Faster Electrification of Economy
UK Defence and Aerospace Strategy Gains Momentum as Keir Starmer Pushes Industrial Cooperation in Berlin
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Unveils £53 Million Investment in Farming Innovation
Foreign Secretary Announces Medical Evacuations and University Support for Palestinians in Gaza
Government-Commissioned Report Highlights Economic Exposure to Climate-Driven Fossil Fuel Price Shocks
Climate Change Committee Warns UK Is Off Track on Emissions Cuts and Calls for Faster Decarbonisation
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Calls for Deeper UK-EU Defence and Industrial Cooperation in Berlin Address
Met Office Issues Red Extreme Heat Warning as Temperatures Set to Surpass 37°C in England and Wales
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Outlook Remains Uncertain
UK Announces New Military Infrastructure at Catterick to Support Engineer Regiment Relocation
University of Reading Ranked Among Top 100 Globally for Sustainability Impact
UK Launches Counter-Fraud Taskforce to Investigate Covid Loan Scams
UK Government Introduces Customs and Tax Reforms to Support High Street Retailers
Jonathan Haskel Nominated as Chair of the UK Office for Budget Responsibility
UK Government Expands Powers to Recover Benefit Debt and Tackle Welfare Fraud
Labour Party Leadership Contest Intensifies as Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband Clash Over Economic Direction
Rail Operators Urge Essential Travel Only as Extreme Heat Threatens UK Network Stability
United Kingdom Issues Red Extreme Heat Warning as Temperatures Forecast to Reach 38°C
Keir Starmer Announces Resignation as UK Prime Minister Amid Deepening Political Instability
UK Biotechnology Sector Receives Increased Public Funding to Support Regional Growth
Police Chiefs Update National Protest Management Guidelines Amid Rising Demonstration Activity
UK Aviation Regulator Expands Support for Regional Airports to Strengthen Domestic Routes
CMA Launches Investigation Into Retail Pricing Across UK Grocery Sector
UK Energy Operator Warns of Winter Supply Pressures Despite Stable Overall Grid Outlook
UK Research Council Expands Funding for Regional Biotechnology and Life Sciences Clusters
UK Compensation Scheme for Post Office Horizon Scandal Reaches 80 Percent Completion
Police Chiefs Issue Updated National Guidance on Managing Large Public Demonstrations
UK Expands Regional Airport Funding Scheme to Boost Domestic Connectivity
UK Competition Watchdog Launches Inquiry Into Grocery Pricing Practices
National Grid Warns of Tight Energy Management Needs During Upcoming Winter Peak Demand
UK Education Department Introduces National Standards for AI Use in Secondary Schools
UK High Court Clears North Sea Carbon Capture Project After Final Legal Challenge Fails
Northern Ireland Leaders Hold Emergency Talks on Trade Disruption Under Windsor Framework
Welsh Government Moves to Expand Social Housing in Response to Severe Affordability Pressures
UK Economy Sees Unexpected Rise in Business Investment in Second Quarter, ONS Data Shows
Scottish Government Unveils Multi-Billion Pound Investment Plan for Renewable Energy and Grid Expansion
UK and EU Agree Enhanced Defence Cooperation Pact Covering Intelligence and North Sea Security
Prime Minister Orders Independent Review of NHS Performance After Record Waiting Lists
Bank of England Holds Interest Rates at 5 Percent as Services Inflation Remains Persistent
UK Heatwave Disrupts Transport, Healthcare and Public Services as Red Weather Alerts Expand Nationwide
Barclays Warns of Growing Cyber Risk Divide Between Large UK Firms and Micro Businesses
European Defence Plans Including Ukraine Integration Prompt UK Strategic Reassessment
UK Equity Markets React as US–Iran Peace Roadmap Eases Oil Price Pressures
United Kingdom Expands Global Clean Energy Partnerships With Brazil, Morocco and Tanzania
Lord David Frost Urges Incoming UK Leadership to Abandon EU Regulatory Reset Strategy
Housing Groups Support Amendment to Strengthen Fire and Gas Safety Access Powers in Social Housing
South London NHS Estates Staff Ballot on Industrial Action Over Pay Structures in Hospital Maintenance Services
United Kingdom Government Invests £60 Million in AI Research Labs at Oxford and University College London
Barclays Cyber Security Report Highlights Rising Threat Exposure Among UK Small Businesses in AI-Driven Attacks
UK Met Office Heatwave Triggers Transport Warnings as Rail Operators Urge Cancellations Amid Infrastructure Strain
×