Domesday Live

Why do people go on strike?

People strike when talks with their employer over pay or conditions break down. Strikes rise when pay falls behind prices, and the public sector is often involved because the government sets or approves the pay of nurses, teachers and others.

Why it happens

• Pay falling behind prices. When prices rise faster than pay, workers are worse off in real terms. Unions then ask for rises to catch up, and disputes follow if they are refused.
• Conditions and staffing. Strikes are also called over workloads, pensions, safety and job cuts, not only pay.
• The government sets public sector pay. Pay for most nurses, teachers and doctors is decided by the government after advice from a review body, so a dispute is with ministers, not only a local employer.
• A last resort with legal steps. In most cases a union must hold a ballot of its members and give notice before a strike. The rules on this have been changing, so check gov.uk for the current ones.