Scioperi nel Regno Unito

Proteste e fermi stanno coinvolgendo i lavoratori di numerose categorie: malcontento per i tagli al servizio pubblico e gli stipendi inadeguati al costo della vita

Demonstrators hold up placards in support of a strike by nurses outside St Thomas' Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Nurses in England, Wales and Ireland will stage the biggest strike in the history of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Up to 100,000 members are expected to walk out at 65 NHS (National Health Services) organisations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

A nurse holds a placard on the picket line as she participates in a strike action over pay in London, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Nurses in England, Wales and Ireland will stage the biggest strike in the history of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Up to 100,000 members will walk out at 65 NHS (National Health Services) organisations. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Ambulance workers go on strike and hold placards as they join the picket line outside the Headquarters of the London Ambulance Service in London, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

A dog joins Ambulance workers on a picket line in London, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Thousands of ambulance workers in Britain are staging a 24-hour strike, with unions and the government swapping accusations of blame for putting lives at risk. The government is telling people not to play contact sports, take unnecessary car trips or get drunk in order to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Ambulance workers hold placards on a picket line in London, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Thousands of ambulance workers in Britain are staging a 24-hour strike, with unions and the government swapping accusations of blame for putting lives at risk. The government is telling people not to play contact sports, take unnecessary car trips or get drunk in order to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Ambulance workers stand on a picket line in London, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Thousands of ambulance workers in Britain are staging a 24-hour strike, with unions and the government swapping accusations of blame for putting lives at risk. The government is telling people not to play contact sports, take unnecessary car trips or get drunk in order to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Badges are worn by an ambulance worker on a picket line in London, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Thousands of ambulance workers in Britain are staging a 24-hour strike, with unions and the government swapping accusations of blame for putting lives at risk. The government is telling people not to play contact sports, take unnecessary car trips or get drunk in order to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

An ambulance is driven out past a picket line in London, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Thousands of ambulance workers in Britain are staging a 24-hour strike, with unions and the government swapping accusations of blame for putting lives at risk. The government is telling people not to play contact sports, take unnecessary car trips or get drunk in order to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Ambulances are seen parked at an ambulance station in London, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Thousands of ambulance workers in Britain are staging a 24-hour strike, with unions and the government swapping accusations of blame for putting lives at risk. The government is telling people not to play contact sports, take unnecessary car trips or get drunk in order to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Una forte ondata di scioperi trasversali si sta abbattendo sul Regno Unito. Dopo infermieri, insegnanti, postini e autisti di mezzi pubblici oggi si è arrivati al blocco delle ambulanze, indetto anche per il 28 dicembre, per la prima volta dal 1990.

Ogni categoria ha le sue specifiche richieste ma in generale si protesta per chiedere un adeguamento degli stipendi dei dipendenti pubblici al costo della vita, aumentato per via della forte inflazione, e contro i tagli ai servizi pubblici, che hanno portato a carenza di personale e condizioni di lavoro inaccettabili.

Lo sciopero delle ambulanze grida la collera per la situazione generale: gli operatori che si licenziano sono più di quelli che vengono assunti per cui il personale è insufficiente e da tempo sovraccarico, con stipendi inferiori a quelli del resto del personale sanitario. I dati denunciano una situazione allarmante: tra il 2020 e il 2021 il sovraffollamento e i ritardi dei servizi d’emergenza dell’NHS (servizio sanitario statale britannico) hanno portato a più di 4 mila morti in eccesso. L’adesione allo sciopero è massiccia e solo in alcuni casi (chiamate particolarmente gravi e urgenti) sarà garantito il servizio.

Gli scioperi continueranno anche durante le feste, creando verosimilmente vari problemi, per esempio nella gestione del turismo vista l’adesione di parte del personale aeroportuale. Non tutti gli scioperi hanno portato ad accordi tra governo e sindacati: il primo ministro Sunak ha detto che non ci sono le risorse economiche per soddisfare le richieste di tutte le categorie. (Foto AP)