Strikes have affected trains, postal services, and education over the past few months as workers protest the gap between salary rises and the cost-of-living problem.<br /><br />In a dispute over wages and working conditions earlier this month, nurses also decided to participate in strike action for the first time ever.<br /><br />Expectations for remuneration that is more equitable and in line with the cost of subsistence will become a cause that is shared by many as people across the nation deal with skyrocketing petrol prices and record-high inflation rates.<br /><br />Could there be a general strike in the UK in light of this and further strikes scheduled for the upcoming months?<br /><br />What you should know is as follows.<br /><br />What is a general strike?<br /><br />A general strike basically occurs when a large number of various unions and employees get together to strike in order to advance economic or political objectives.<br /><br />A general strike, as defined by the dictionary, is "the cessation of work by a significant percentage of workers in a variety of industries in an organised effort to achieve economic or political objectives."<br /><br />However, there have been numerous successful, non-general strikes that have had an impact on the economy and politics.<br /><br />Consider the miner strikes of the 1970s and 1980s or the Winter of Unrest in 1978 and 1979, which resulted in widespread strikes by public sector employees. These were well-planned, efficient strikes that affected politics, although they only affected a few industries.<br /><br />Similar actions would be taken simultaneously by a larger network of unions during a general strike.<br /><br />In the UK, might there be a general strike?<br />There are no signs that a broad strike is imminent. Larger umbrella organisations like Unite and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would be required to endorse a general strike.<br />
