/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/NLM7VK3NONPQDALGQ7XLS2WGJM.jpg)
[ad_1]
LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) – One in eight British companies faced disruption in October due to strikes that affected public transport, postal services, telecoms and other sectors, a survey showed on Thursday.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 13% of businesses reported some form of impact from industrial action – mostly due to being unable to access goods or services they needed, for example due to postal strikes.
The impact was generally greatest for small businesses and those in the retail and construction sectors.
Other common reasons for the disruption include employees working from home or being unable to perform their duties, during a month when rail workers were on frequent strikes.
Only 2.2% of businesses that reported disruptions said this was as a result of some or all of their own employees being directly involved in strike action. This rises to 7% for companies with 250 or more staff.
The ONS said 41% of firms with 10 or more workers reported an increase in transport costs during the month.
A third of respondents reported staff shortages, with 54% of companies in the human and health activities sector affected.
Looking ahead, a quarter of companies cited input price inflation as the main concern and 19% energy prices.
Workers across Britain staged a series of walkouts as incomes fell behind 41-year high inflation. As the cost of living rises, employees are seeking better pay and working conditions.
Nurses, teachers, cash delivery staff, driving examiners and railway and postal workers are set to go on strike in December.
The Unite and GMB unions announced on Wednesday that more than 10,000 ambulance workers had voted to walk out. Government employees responsible for passport checks, borders and national highways have also endorsed strike action but dates are yet to be decided.
The ONS carried out the survey from 14-27 November, asking about conditions in October and receiving responses from more than 10,000 businesses.
Reported by Suban Abdullah; Editing by David Milliken
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
[ad_2]
Source link