Prasannkumar 
Protests and strikes in Europe about the cost of living, pay and other issues.
High energy prices and rising living costs are leading to strikes and protests in Europe. Below are details about some industrial actions and demonstrations.
Royal Mail in Britain announced on Nov. 1, that members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), its largest labor union, will hold two 48-hour strikes in late December and early January to prepare for Christmas.
An English workers’ union announced Wednesday that it secured a 10% increase in pay for over 900 bus drivers in East London from Stagecoach Group, amid rising living costs.
British workers union announced Tuesday that it had reached a 12.5% wage agreement with GXO for 1,000 beer delivery drivers. This cancels strikes that were scheduled in the lead-up to the soccer World Cup finals.
On Oct. 28, Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, was challenged by an elderly patient in a London hospital. He said it was “pity” that nurses were not paid more and that he should “try harder”. In its 106-year history, the largest nursing union has started voting to strike over a dispute about pay. It is the largest ballot.
FRANCE
France’s oil refining capacities are still offline at around 45%, despite strike action last month. However, supply is expected to improve as one refinery is now back online and another will be returning to full capacity by next week.
A spokesperson for Exxon Mobil stated that the restart of France’s Fos-Sur-Mer oil refining plant in France, which produces 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), should be complete by the end this week. This comes after a long strike that lasted several weeks and ended in mid-October.
It announced that France’s EDF had signed a formal wage agreement with its workers, including all the unions.
GERMANY
In light of rising inflation, unions in Europe’s largest economy are requesting higher wages.
German trade union IG Metal Kueste stated that it had called for several thousand workers to strike at 15 locations, including Hamburg’s Airbus.
Lufthansa and UFO Union have reached an agreement to raise the salaries of 19,000 cabin crew members. The German flagship airline stated Tuesday.
Audi, a German carmaker, is open to offering one-off tax-free payments to employees instead of permanent wage rises, according its human resources director.
SPAIN
Azul Handling workers, the ground handling company that services Ryanair in 22 Spanish Airports, have called off plans to hold several 24-hour strikes to demand better working conditions. Union USO stated on Oct. 28.
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