Union activists plot coordinated strikes across hospitals and schools to force country into lockdown

UNION activists are plotting to launch coordinated strikes across hospitals and schools, Trending In The News on Sunday can reveal.

Left-wing agitators are pushing for general strike-style mass militant action to force the country into a virtual lockdown.

Militants in the union-backed Strike Map group want nurses, teachers and junior doctors to walk out at the same time to cause maximum disruption.

Their blueprint calls for the BMA junior doctors’ union, NEU teachers’ union and RCN nurses’ union to hold joint meetings to plot disruption.

Earlier this week, more than 300 backers of the plan attended an online meeting at which they said workers should be inspired by the 1984 miners’ strike.

NEU activist Paul McGarr told the meeting: “The Strike Map motion is fantastic because it talks about coordination. We need to be not dividing our struggles but uniting.

“Escalation is necessary. We need much more sustained action.”

But Tory MPs warned the plan would spell more misery for millions of people already weary of strikes. Kit Malthouse, a former Education Secretary, said: “This is a very worrying development.

“I know millions of families will be distressed to hear that a hardcore of activists are trying to hijack these disputes and inflict maximum pain.”

The RCN said: “This is a petition and has no standing.” The NEU said: “There is no plan to coordinate strike action between the NEU and the RCN.”

The four biggest teaching unions are already planning coordinated strikes in schools.

NHS walkout vow

THE nurses’ union is poised to continue striking despite warnings of “significant risk” to patients.

There were hopes of an end to the pay row as most health unions are expected to accept a five per cent deal.

But Royal College of Nursing head Pat Cullen said: “We’ll be re-balloting members, probably around mid-May.”

Nick Hulme, chief of Colchester Hospital in Essex, warned: “There’s significant risk to safety.”

THE RCN agreed to emergency cover at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital this weekend only after being told children would be at risk.