British trade unions have a sure touch when it comes to antagonizing the public. Drivers on London's Underground are considering strikes to coincide with the royal wedding—blighting the occasion for tens of thousands of well-wishers. Overseas visitors hoping to join Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29 may also face disappointment: British Airways cabin crews have proposed strike action around the same time.
Indeed, the whole country may suffer wedding-day disruptions. Strikes are "inevitable" this spring, says Mark Serwotka, leader of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents many of the country's civil servants. No dates are fixed—but the best time to achieve maximum impact would be the Easter holiday season, Serwotka says.
It's a risky strategy. Any extra publicity from the timing could be more than offset by the ill will strikes would cause. Which means that if strikes do occur, the only celebration in the streets might be among government supporters happy to see union bosses cast as killjoys.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
