(Solution) (AC2.2) Assess emerging trends in the types of conflict and industrial sanctions

Short references should be added into your narrative below. Please remember to only list your long references in the reference box provided at the end of this section. 

Word count: Approximately  400 words

1. Increase in the Number of Strikes

Pros:

• Stronger Employee Bargaining Power – When more employees strike they gain better negotiating power with their employers. Employers need these movements most in the medical and train industries as they fight to keep staff from leaving. Employees use strikes to show their power and make employers take action on work issues effectively.
• Greater Public and Political Awareness -Strikes attract public attention toward workplace problems including poor wage rates inadequate staffing and employment instability. Actions by businesses and officials to improve workplace conditions have come about because people talk about wage fairness and staffing needs in the media (CIPD, 2022).

Cons:

• Economic and Business Disruptions – The increase in strikes has resulted in significant financial losses for businesses and the wider economy. Industries reliant on continuous operations, such as transport and healthcare, have faced severe disruptions (Lewis Silkin, 2022).
• Strained Industrial Relations – Frequent strikes can create long-term tensions between employers and employees, leading to lower morale and a challenging work environment even after disputes are resolved.

2. Rising Number of Working Days Lost

Pros:

• Encourages Employers to Act – The high number of lost working days has pressured organisations and policymakers to engage in meaningful negotiations to prevent further disruptions, leading to improved pay settlements and working conditions.
• Stronger Trade Union Influence – With more working days lost to strikes, trade unions have regained prominence as key advocates for employee rights, strengthening collective bargaining power.

Cons:

• Productivity Decline – Businesses face operational delays, reduced service delivery, and financial losses due to extended industrial action, impacting overall productivity and economic growth (ONS, 2023).
• Public Service Disruptions – Sectors such as healthcare, rail, and education have suffered delays and cancellations, affecting millions of people and sometimes leading to negative public perceptions of striking workers.