Strikes have disrupted the lives of millions of people, and teacher strikes have hit people the hardest, a survey has revealed.
About 27 percent felt the impact of widespread industrial action during the last two weeks of March.
The most common complaints were that dependent children could not attend school (27 percent), followed by not being able to attend school, college or university (17 percent).
Loss of leisure activities affected 16 percent of those aged 16 and over, the Office for National Statistics survey found.
Together with teachers, young doctors, paramedics, passport office staff, Heathrow security staff and university professors have organized strikes.
Now the Communications Workers Union, which represents 115,000 postal workers, is ready for a new industrial action.
More misery is also expected for those in education, after teachers’ unions rejected a pay offer and announced they will go on strike for five more days.
The government has proposed a one-time payment of £1,000 for teachers in the current school year, and an average 4.5 percent pay increase for staff for the academic year beginning in September.
Rejecting this, the National Education Union announced strikes on April 27, May 2, and three days in June or July to empty classrooms.
A new vote by faculty members in England is expected on more industrial shares during the exam season.
Starting April 11 next week, the young doctors plan to abandon patients and lay down tools for four days, their longest strike yet.
After doctors refused to budge on demands for a 35 percent pay rise, officials say the timing of their strike just after the Easter bank holiday has left hospitals in “uncharted territory.”
A quarter of a million trades and appointments could be cancelled, while senior consultants who provided cover during the first round of strikes are likely to be unavailable due to holiday commitments.
Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said: “The challenges here are unprecedented.”