Unions discuss coordinating strike action alongside public demonstration in support of workers

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The unions discussed coordinating strike action alongside a large-scale public demonstration in support of workers in a bid to force the government to raise wages.

Unions want to harness the power of public pressure as they consider how to step up industrial action.

A national day of protest will take place on February 1, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the movement's umbrella body, has announced. Rallies and marches could take place across the country, while the public will be asked to show their support on social media.

The demonstration is against new laws planned by the government on the levels of minimum service, which could see striking workers sacked.

It is thought that some unions could plan to come out on the same day, although some of the bigger ones, such as healthcare unions, are more skeptical of the idea.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has made it clear that it was not involved in any coordination around the February 1 strike.

There are already coordinated strike actions between the unions. On Wednesday, ambulance staff members of the Unison or GMB will stage their second strike over pay.

Nurses have already unveiled plans for two days of back-to-back strikes later this month in a bid to get ministers to negotiate.

Unions want to harness the power of public pressure as they consider how to step up industrial action< /p>(Reuters)

Pat Cullen, the head of the RCN, told The Independent over the weekend that action was expected to intensify unless nurses are not offered an acceptable salary increase. But she played down the idea of ​​coordinating with other health unions, such as those representing paramedics, citing concerns about patient safety.

In addition to strikes by nurses, paramedics and railway workers, the government also faces the prospect of action by young doctors and teachers.

Striking paramedics demonstrate outside Waterloo Ambulance Station

Unions representing a number of key professions...