The Big Strike

Bantex_2

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

The people moaning about teachers are usually upset because of losing their free childcare.

It's not free if you work and pay tax.

Yorkie1

Although 1m workers may have been on strike, they came from the usual unions which strike and so one wonders whether the impact is less simply because it's the usual workers out?

The really big strike in November? 3-4 years ago was supported by so many unions, many of them moderate and perhaps striking for the first time in their existence, that I suspect that alone made more impact and gave more clout for negotiations which followed.

Bantex_2

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Although 1m workers may have been on strike, they came from the usual unions which strike and so one wonders whether the impact is less simply because it's the usual workers out?

The really big strike in November? 3-4 years ago was supported by so many unions, many of them moderate and perhaps striking for the first time in their existence, that I suspect that alone made more impact and gave more clout for negotiations which followed.

Don't think anyone noticed that one either.
It's only the tube drivers that have any effect.

J_i_m

Bantex wrote: »

Don't think anyone noticed that one either.
It's only the tube drivers that have any effect.

Maybe you only notice the tube drivers strike because it directly affects you on the day.

Other strikes aren't as noticeable to you because they a) don't affect you and b) are covered effectively by non striking staff.

LydiaJ

Bantex wrote: »

Don't think anyone noticed that one either.
It's only the tube drivers that have any effect.

I assume you live in London and don't have any children at school?

Your statement makes about as much sense as if I said that nobody notices tube strikes and it's only the teachers that have any effect, which would be true for me personally although clearly not at all true for the nation as a whole. Do try to remember that other people's circumstances and experience are different from yours.

Fella

Tromking wrote: »

I'm a civil servant who is precluded by law from striking. That said, the one day (in 27 years) I did withdraw my labour was probably the proudest day in my career. Some typically British 'nation of shopkeepers' attitudes to workers rights on this thread. We could learn a lot from the French in this regard.

Would that be the same French who think the solution is to take their bosses hostage?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/french-workers-bosses-hostage-goodyear-amiens

Andy_L

Generali wrote: »

I agree with a caveat that striking isn't always the best or correct way to do this.

People like the military, police, firemen, teachers, nurses & doctors, ambulance-ists and bus & train drivers shouldn't be able to strike IMHO. The military can't at present and that should be extended I think.

although the military do have an independent pay review body who'srecomendations the government has (almost?) never ignored.

antrobus

societys_child wrote: »

Agree with the sentiment of this thread, but I noticed 'cos my bins didn't get emptied ..... .

My bins got emptied irrespective of the strike. One of the advantages of contracting out I expect.

Andy_L wrote: »

although the military do have an independent pay review body who'srecomendations the government has (almost?) never ignored.

Teachers have one as well. It's the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). It recently released it's 24th report. It recommended a 1% increase in teacher's pay. Gove has announced he intends to accept their recommendations in full.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/school-teachers-review-body-24th-report

Yet for some reason the NUT is unhappy with that and called a 'strike'. Go figure.

Pennywise

michaels wrote: »

Also interesting is the decision to all strike on the same day - makes it look like an attempt to send a political statement rather than individual groups of employees expressing their own specific greviences.

Which it is. People are deluded if they think it's about pay and/or conditions. It's just the unions trying to flex their muscle to bring down the government. Those who went on strike are just pawns for the union politics.

One of the headline "demands" was an end to "spending cuts" - that's a very woolly demand and something that no political party could ever give. Nothing but political posturing and media sound bites.

antrobus

Pennywise wrote: »

Which it is. People are deluded if they think it's about pay and/or conditions. It's just the unions trying to flex their muscle to bring down the government. Those who went on strike are just pawns for the union politics.

One of the headline "demands" was an end to "spending cuts" - that's a very woolly demand and something that no political party could ever give. Nothing but political posturing and media sound bites.

One would have to say that if the objective was to "bring down the government", then the government has absolutely nothing to worry about, and is perfectly safe and secure.

The Big Strike? Do me a favour. Taking a days unpaid leave so you can go and wave a few placards about ain't a strike. A strike is when you down tools, walk out, and refuse to go back to work until your demands are met.

What has happened to this country? The unions can't even organise a proper strike anymore.