Rishi Sunak warned of 'significant' escalation in coordinated strikes in March

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Rishi Sunak's government should be ready for a 'significant' escalation in synchronized strikes across the UK from March, the leader of Britain's biggest union has warned the country's civil service.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, told The Independent that he expected more unions are joining a day of industrial action on February 1 that will see 100,000 of its members walk out.

'I'm confident we won't be the only union on strike that day' , he said during the February walkouts.

“What you will see in early March is a much greater chance that union-coordinated strikes will increase quite significantly. Unions will be working much more closely together.” < /p>

Mr Serwotka also warned Mr Sunak that the Tories could pay the price in the 2024 general election for their refusal to negotiate on the current pay disputes – insisting that the unions could go on strike while throughout 2023.

"I think these disputes could potentially drag on throughout the year unless the government does something [about pay]," he said. he said "I don't think anyone is going to give up because we can't afford to give up."

The union leader added: "If the government thinks the disruption continues will mean that people will turn against the workers, I think they are making a huge error in judgement. Ultimately, they will have to explain why we have had more industrial unrest than we have had in years - they will have to explain it in the next election. departments and agencies, including the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport, will strike on February 1.

PCS boss Mark Serwotka has shared his plans for further strikes

The walkouts by Border Force personnel will cause disruptions at nearly every airport and port in the country. This includes the Port of Dover, where Mr Serwortka has warned of 'significant' problems as National Highways staff and other civil servants used as cover during union actions over Christmas will also be...