Strike but not in a Union?

saintjammyswine

Googlewhacker wrote: »

Which is why I would advocate that over 50% must vote for action to go ahead, that way you know 100% that it is supported by the majority.

Which is why for governments the alternate voting system probably would have been a better way to go than the current first past the post.

People don't vote because they are apathetic.

So if 50% vote and it is passed with a vote of 52% then the people voting yes amount to 26% of the total. One is assuming that the apathetic 50% would have also voted yes? Surely for it to be represntative of the majority it must be a majority vote overall?

mynameisclare

Googlewhacker wrote: »

Or a large percentage who are quite happy to go along with a democratic mandate. A mandate bigger than that which elected most local councillors and MEPs.

I doubt it...

Turnout in my union (Prospect) was 52%. 75% voted yes.

Turnout at the last council elections in my ward was 40%. That was higher than average for the city.

Turnout at the last European elections here was 32%.

Turnout at the last parliamentary election in my constituency happened to also be 52%. In one of the city's other seats it was 15% though I think there was some sort of boycott there.

Do you think in any of those elections the winner got anything like 75%?

eamon

I refuse to take seriously any lectures re democracy and elections from any union basher or ConDem apologist.
I'm on strike next Wednesday because it imho it is the right and just thing to do. I can afford to pay more into the local government pension scheme and I don't mind doing so. But I have many colleagues that can't. I don't want to have to work any longer than 65 yo (my body is already beginning to let me down and I'm only 49).
I'm fed up with the "we are all in this together" propaganda, when we are all clearly not. I'm fed up with enforced pay freezes. I'm fed up with 20% VAT. I'm fed up with the constant drip of indirect taxation. I have many other fed ups but mostly I'm fed up with this incompetent, patronising and spiteful government that nobody voted for and I can't hold my vent in for another 3+ years so as we can get rid of this sorry lot at the next general election.
This is the first time in my working life that I've felt so angry and bitter that I am being driven to the streets to protest. Just to add my mother went on one of the first civil rights marches in Northern Ireland against another equally incompetent, patronising and spiteful government. I know that she will be proud of me.

Fight back. Its the right thing to do.

MoreOn

**Juice** wrote: »

Technically, unless it's salary deduction, how would your employer know whether or not you're in a union? From what I can gather you don't need to disclose this.

It's up to the individual whether or not they choose to strike and what their reasons are for doing so. I also hope someone has explained to your colleagues that they will not receive their pay for the day that they are on strike.

my employer has emailed everyone with a form to fill in... if you don't fill it in it'll be assumed you're on strike or sympathisng with the strikers and will diduct 1/365th of salary... only problem is, some are hourly paid and are not contracted for that day...

Many just refuse to sign the form..

Googlewhacker

mynameisclare wrote: »

Turnout in my union (Prospect) was 52%. 75% voted yes.

Turnout at the last council elections in my ward was 40%. That was higher than average for the city.

Turnout at the last European elections here was 32%.

Turnout at the last parliamentary election in my constituency happened to also be 52%. In one of the city's other seats it was 15% though I think there was some sort of boycott there.

Do you think in any of those elections the winner got anything like 75%?

No but none of them got 50.1% of the vote either

hcb42

eamon wrote: »

I'm on strike next Wednesday because it imho it is the right and just thing to do. I can afford to pay more into the local government pension scheme and I don't mind doing so. But I have many colleagues that can't. I don't want to have to work any longer than 65 yo (my body is already beginning to let me down and I'm only 49).
I'm fed up with the "we are all in this together" propaganda, when we are all clearly not. I'm fed up with enforced pay freezes. I'm fed up with 20% VAT. I'm fed up with the constant drip of indirect taxation. I have many other fed ups but mostly I'm fed up with this incompetent, patronising and spiteful government that nobody voted for and I can't hold my vent in for another 3+ years so as we can get rid of this sorry lot at the next general election.
.

But WHO does pay for this?

I am 43, held a senior role in private sector for many years now. For the last 10 I have had no pension whatsoever, and this is a fact of life in the specific industry I work in. I cant change it, so all I can do is save and I know that is not enough. I dont want to work beyond 65 either, but there is no choice. THe only choice would be more taxation, which you also dont want. (Indeed neither do I)

It doesnt really matter who is in government - the economic facts are the same. How they are shared out might be slightly different, but to wait a few more years for a decent pension is a better option than many.

MoreOn

hcb42 wrote: »

But WHO does pay for this?

I am 43, held a senior role in private sector for many years now. For the last 10 I have had no pension whatsoever, and this is a fact of life in the specific industry I work in. I cant change it, so all I can do is save and I know that is not enough. I dont want to work beyond 65 either, but there is no choice. THe only choice would be more taxation, which you also dont want. (Indeed neither do I)

It doesnt really matter who is in government - the economic facts are the same. How they are shared out might be slightly different, but to wait a few more years for a decent pension is a better option than many.

So, salary? Perks? time spent in eduction? .... tell all...If you did have a pension, i'll assume you'll get tax break, which the public sector pay for...

emg

Unions have to send employers a list of members when they have called a strike. The employer will assume all members on that list are not at work that day unless they are told otherwise. Most employers also have a policy that any non-authorised absence on a strike day will be assumed to be strike action and unpaid (my employer is saying that we have to have a drs note if we phone in sick on that day).

MoreOn

emg wrote: »

Unions have to send employers a list of members when they have called a strike. The employer will assume all members on that list are not at work that day unless they are told otherwise. Most employers also have a policy that any non-authorised absence on a strike day will be assumed to be strike action and unpaid (my employer is saying that we have to have a drs note if we phone in sick on that day).

and if you're not contracted to work on that day?

SarEl

I only skimmed the thread - I don't nee to read it all again. And again, And again. There is going to be a strike. get over it.

Any employee is entitled to strike. You do not have to be a union member. Dismissal SOLEY because you legitimately withdrew your labour as part of a dispute is ILLEGAL and UNLAWFUL it's actually unlawful, but people will insist on using the word illegal! And what is more, because I kinow unions - ANY employee vistimised for exercising their LEGAL RIGHT to withdraw labour would immediately become the darling of the unions - they would be fighting to recrit and support you.

And unions not only DO NOT have to send employers lists of their members - but any employer asking for such a list would (a) be acting unlawfully and (b) get a very rude response from the union in question.

Jeez - the rubbish that people put on the boards is beyond belief.

Ignore personal opinions and prejudice - and downright stupidity. Make your own decisions and if you want to strike - union member or not - then do it.

And my personal opinion is that I despair the state of this country - once upon a time workers had backbones!