Hello

The additional school cost is super difficult because the uniforms are expensive now, when it's a strike day or summer holidays it's super difficult because school is closed and the prices for camps or extra activities are super high.

Getting fed up of strikes. I do understand to some extent why people go on strike.

I just wish that it wouldn’t cause me and my family difficulty.

We wasn’t able to afford a holiday in the summer holiday and manage to do a week away in caravan for May half term.

None of us drive and we are a family of 5. No one can give us a lift.

We don’t mind getting public transport but then we noticed there are train strikes on the 3rd which caused us to have to come back the Friday. And now, there is another strike on the 2nd! We just couldn’t lose 2 days. We don’t get any money back and it’s certainly not fair on my children. So we have paid to stay a night in a BnB costing £135 for one night to come back on the Sunday. Either way we looked at it, we lost money and not just a little. It’s left what should of been an exciting time feeling annoyed, upset and frustrated.

I found out on Friday from my child's school, that they will be closed for 2 days this weeks due to strike action, and that further strike action will be taking place next month.

Whilst I do have sympathies for the reasons behind the strike action, I can't imagine how disruptive the impact of having 2 days off school in one week, can be towards a child's education, as well as the impact it could have on many working parents who are having to arrange childcare at very short notice, for the days that the school will be on strike, so that they can still go to work.

The school that my children attend was open for studies on the day of the planned strikes. So I'm very grateful for that as I am a single parent and a full-time employee.

I hope that the government listens to the voices of those who are on strike and come to a good compromise with the workers.

I understand why teachers are striking I really do, however, surely it could of been done in a better way, like Covid measures, at risk kids still allowed at school or single parent kids. Whilst I do understand why they are doing it, being a single parent it’s put me in a bad place with the cost of living not helping, it’s end of year, no holidays left for work as you know there’s never enough with kids, but I have to take the days off they are striking, unpaid. That’s not good for me or my child with every single bill and bit of food going up in price, after all the time kids had off due to Covid I think it was the wrong way to go about it?

Overall the word ‘strike’ is just being used everywhere. To some extent I can understand why a lot of people/companies are taking this action.

Obviously there is a downside to it as well.

With regards to the NHS. 100% they deserve more money however the impact of the strike has caused things to be delayed which for some people can be a life changing issue.

With regards to school. I do think salary is actually reasonable considering the amount of time they also have off to spend with families. The issue is it impacts childrens learning.

Royal Mail strike caused letters/parcels to be missing. I personally bought a specific card that goes at gravesides for my dad for Christmas. However it never arrived and it is something you can’t just buy in shops. I had to cover a card in tape, to protect from the weather.

I am struggling massively with finances. Right now I can’t afford clothing for my kids, I'm struggling with food. But I can’t just go on strike from being a mum. I have to make best with what I have. It’s frustrating. Then when all these other things happen it feels like another burden on my shoulders, another thing to stress about,. I get the government need to just listen and do what’s best but if they except everything that everyone is saying. It will have an impact. There will be good but it will have bad sides too.

I'm very lucky in that the strike action isn't hugely impacting me, slower letters and worries over if kids need emergency help at hospital but largely it's not negatively effecting me. I am seeing positive responses from people around me to the strikes, when our school announced they'd not be called to strike the comment section of there post was full of "we stand with you" and "you deserve good pay", etc. And when other schools were striking and I saw people walking around with flags and signs, they were getting high fives and warm smiles, I didn't see any aggression (I'm sure some people would have been but I was worried people would be largely negative - I think most people are pissed off at the government for putting services to a point where they have to strike and risk lives, the blame goes to the government, none of us can fairly begrudge working people just asking for enough money (to not have to use foodbanks).

No one should have to use foodbanks in a first world country, especially not our first line of defence against economic collapse, our essential service providers.

Today was the first time that both Ambulance workers and Nurses have been on on strike at the same time.

Whilst I fully support their cause, it have concerned me a little, because it got me thinking about what the impact of the strike action could be on me or my loved ones, should we fall ill or have a medical emergency whilst the strike action is taking place.

I am worried that if this did happen (a medical emergency) we could be waiting for an Ambulance for hours, and if that happens, what could/would be the consequences of that, if we don't receive emergency treatment on time?

Hence, I believe that a solution to this problem needs to be found as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary fatalities or ultimately, even, unfortunately the possible loss of life.

I 100% back the strike action. Public service workers are massively understaffed and underpaid. I grew up in a house with 2 teachers, they were well paid and had the resources available to do their kids justice. That’s not the case anymore and something needs to change

I’m fortunate enough to work from home so it wasn’t an issue for me personally and I had a few of my daughters friends over to help the parents out with childcare

I am worried about these strike actions. There are always a reason for something happening. The members of the TU are unite and call strike actions for their pay rise which is legitimate but we are general people suffering the most due to these strike actions. Government should come forward to address these national problems urgently by taking a holistic approach. Hoping for the good.

I am worried about recent strike actions from all of the sector. Specially worried about my future hospital appointments as NHS are on strike and children are missing their school because of teacher's strike action. Feeling very disappointed about our future in this country as situation going out of control day by day. Need to sit all together to find out the best solutions and immediate action to give hope to people.

This week's strike action made me realise just how much anger and frustration there is out there about the pay and conditions across many sectors of our economy and society.

Reading and watching how some Union reps summarised the strike action also helped me understand why workers felt forced to go on strike, which appears as if it is because they have just reached boiling point, and has been further exacerbated because of the cost of living crisis.

Seeing newspaper headlines highlighting the huge profits being made by energy companies whilst we are all still in this cost of living crisis has further inflamed the situation, and justified the reasons underpinning the strike action.