Some musings on how to neutralise the unions

ilovemydog- There is a broad consensus on the centre ground. All 3 major partys broadly agree on the broad framework on how the country should be run there are few ideological battles.

No!

But the serious point being that the clear cut policies of left and right have been blurred.

As far as the unions are concerned, what hits the headlines are the sensational stories, i.e. ballot for industrial action, strike dates announced etc. What often is not reported are the agreements secured, the concessions made, the agreements on the table, not to mention how far the union is willing to negotiate with management so that workers do not have to walk out.

I 'm not a fan of George Bush. But George Bush just does what he is told, the same as Tony Blair and all the rest.

ilovemydogandwarcriminalsgeorgebush perhaps?

ilovemydog, our positions are getting closer.
It won't be long until you change your name to ilovemydogandGeorgeBush

What demands has Bob Crow made that were unreasonable?

Claig, I'm impressed

Darn, i thought this was a soup thread.

I could have neutralised your onions anyday

but sadly politics is beyond me.

Au revoir...

It seems so, Claig! Dunno, I'm on the side of ordinary people and especially the vulnerable - which could be any of us, tomorrow, if we were hit by bad luck. (The rich already have plenty of power so can look after their own interests very successfully.)

yes edam, we are not really that far apart. we are both on the side of ordinary people.

Claig, I am impressed - this is about the third or fourth time we've agreed despite coming at things from very different political directions.

' I have no objection, in principle, to minimum turnout thresholds for local and general elections too. Then if a constituency or ward couldn't be bothered to vote, they can forfeit electoral representation.'

no taxation without representation. Can they then remove themselves from the tax system?

I think we need strong unions to protect workers' interests. Germany has strong unions and is an economic and industrial powerhouse. Treating workers decently doesn't harm the interests of business.

creamlegbar- one of the problems is that the union leaders in this country eg Crow/Woodley make such unreasonable demands. They seem unable or unwilling to accept the economic situation that we live in. That said the right to withdraw your labour must be kept and the OPs proposals are ludicrous.

(speaking in quiet voice, hoping not to be offensive)

Is there anyone on mn who lives in Germany? I think that the German unions have negotiated pay cuts for their members, because, relatively, prices have fallen and the Germans understand the need to remain competitive, esp with the unpredictably strong Euro.

If this is what has happened in Germany, it says to me that 'Unions' are not a knee-jerk leftist malarkey. But a bit more economicaly literate.

blah, blah, blah unions, blah blah blah strikes, blah blah blah etc. boring, unoriginal but I have come to expect nothing less from you LFN

"Employees should make themselves better than their colleagues and distinguish themselves; the employer will then pay them more."

Hilarious.

lfn, where on earth do you live? Trumpton?

LFN- your proposals are ridiculous, the right to withdraw your labour is one that should exist in a liberal democracy.

Well said, Newwave.

LFN, if you have your way the workers in the UK will end up as thralls of the managerial class.

It is beyond ridiculous to expect to be given three months notice of a 24 hour strike and as always your arguments point to the fact that you are anti the "workers" because you have a vested intrest or you are a dupe of the "ruling classes".

TBH you come across as a nasty piece of work and undemocratic.

Not wanting to get into a massive discussion but I am interested in left/right politics and I always mean to read more. I think some issues are easily polarised into left/right, others aren't so must be difficult to pin a label onto an individual. A debate for another day I think.

Ok when you the Left, doesn't sound like you mean Labour - do you call the Tories The Right. I've not read BNP policies but instinctively think of them as being on the right.

"reallytired Workers should have the right to strike as a bargaining tool. Companies and organisations should also have the right to sack or demote strikers as a bargaining tool."

Workers don't get paid for going on strike. Empoyers are allowed to sack strikers after 12 weeks.

If an employer gets in a temporary worker to do the job at the rate they want to pay then the temporary worker gets paid and the striker doesn't.

That is ofcourse assuming its possible to get someone COMPETANT to do the job on such low pay.

Its economics and a case of who blinks first, the employer or the employee.