As Britain enters another week of widespread disruption caused by the biggest wave of strikes in a decade, a survey by the UK’s leading independent job board, CV-Library, has shown that 76 per cent of UK workers are sympathetic towards those choosing to take industrial action. In a surprising twist, the unprecedented strikes have also inspired 19.6 per cent of private sector workers to consider taking similar action.
65.5 per cent of the 2,250 people CV-Library surveyed are unhappy with the way the Government is handling the situation but there is overwhelming sympathy for the workers themselves, with nurses and ambulance drivers gaining the most support:
• 69.3 per cent Nurses
• 62.8 per cent Ambulance Drivers
• 48.8 per cent Teachers
• 46.3 per cent Postal Workers
• 41.2 per cent Rail Workers
• 24.0 per cent No sympathy for any workers choosing to strike
With specific regard to teachers striking, 73.5 per cent were unconcerned about any significant impact, although 17.4 per cent admitted they would be affected personally due to their young school-age children being off and 8.1 per cent confessed to worrying that their workload would increase due to colleagues being absent or working from home.
Lee Biggins, Founder and CEO of CV-Library commented: “A whole generation of people are being exposed to strike action for the first time and both the support it’s generating and the example it’s setting will have a huge impact for British businesses, already under pressure.
“The Government needs to heed the warning that the majority of UK workers are unhappy with its handling of the situation,” Biggins adds. “Further action is required urgently, not only to stop public services coming to a standstill but to avoid non-union employees following suit.”
