The World : British Stalled by Strikes

Strikes paralyzed Britain’s rail network, the London subway, the port of London, 41 other British ports and local government services across the nation. The 24-hour national rail strike by the National Union of Railwaymen was its fourth stoppage in four weeks; the daylong strike by London subway drivers was their 10th since April 5. The rail strike followed the breakdown of 12 hours of wage talks between British Rail managers and rail unions. This has been the worst week of labor unrest since Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher came to power 10 years ago. Britain’s rising annual inflation rate, now at 8.3%, its highest in seven years, has eaten into wages, leading to pay demands by unions.