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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really have no respect for people who strike..

140 replies

stealthpony · 12/08/2010 22:29

...when it has the potential to cause so much public disruption?

I don't give a bollock what they're striking about. I've had a weekend away planned for months. Imagine if it's your wedding abroad or a funeral or a holiday you'd worked fucking hard at on minimum wage all year to get? It could be for any reason but striking airport staff will stop all of your plans and you go nowhere.

AIBU to think that THEY are the unreasonable ones or can someone please explain to me why I should be on their side?

OP posts:
StudiousSal · 13/08/2010 01:25

Y money?? money does not equal happiness,

Try being happy without any!!! your talking shit now.

mumof2children · 13/08/2010 01:31

pmsl at this thread....... i don't have 2p to rub together yet i know that there is alot of free things to enjoy.

Kaloki · 13/08/2010 01:35

I have to say, I am also biased in this thread (not just because of previous work connections) but also because my wedding is coming up, and 2 friends who I haven't seen for 8 years and who are like sisters will be flying over. I'm just praying that if the strike does go ahead it won't stop me seeing them. They both had to fight to get the time off - it may be another 8 years before they both get the time off at the same time again. :(

Heracles · 13/08/2010 08:25

Nobody wants to strike. It's risky, it's miserable and you don't get paid. It's a last resort.

The argument "well I don't have the right to strike and I'd be happy with" blah blah blah has it entirely back to front.

sanielle · 13/08/2010 09:04

Think it depends on the strike. they used to mean somethign and were about health and safety basic, living wages ets. IN the middle of the recession only getting a 1percent pay rise is not a strikable offence. Dh and I would love even that :(

Hammy02 · 13/08/2010 09:13

I can't believe anyone is striking in these mid-recession times - when there are millions of people desperate to work. I am out of work at the moment due to the impact of the recession on my industry and am now applying for jobs on half the wage that I was on previously. I have zero sympathy for people that are striking just because they aren't getting pay rises or are losing a few perks.

I just think many people are naive in not being aware of just how tough it is out there for others.

loopyloops · 13/08/2010 09:22

Mumof2 - very sorry to hear about your nan, but what on earth does it have to do with this?

ccpccp · 13/08/2010 09:32

Globalisation is here. If the UK is to compete it needs to improve efficiency and become low cost for labour.

Right now we are too expensive, which is why strikers will all find their jobs exported to India in the end.

Think you're immume Mr Tube Driver? They'll just import Chinese drivers to do the job for half your pay. And a lot less sick days.

OrmRenewed · 13/08/2010 09:37

Well it depends doesn't it? On the reason for the strike. I happen to think the reasons for this one aren't particularly strong. But in general, yes, i do tend to support strikes - there has to be some way of forcing employers to take their employee's grievances seriously. And let's face it, compared to the 1970s strikes are few and far between. I know all the economic arguments for changes in working practices but that doesn't mean those directly affected should not be able to make their views heard.

OP, you are just pissed off about your hols, which I can understand, but in many cases a strike is about something a great deal more important.

Deliaskis · 13/08/2010 09:39

I agree with Unions and striking to achieve acceptable health & safety standards and to ensure compliance with the law in terms of minimum wage, maximum working hours, sick & holiday pay and unfair dismissal etc. That is asking for what is legal and fair. What I don't agree with is striking because the payrise you have been offered isn't quite what you'd had in mind. Most people I know who work in smaller/non-Unionised companies/sectors have had no payrises for 2 years, we just get on and do the job and try and keep the business afloat.

I think striking because of an 'inadequate' payrise or benefits (when these people are hardly minimum wage workers to start with) is pretty insulting to the rest of the working (and desperate to work) public and as such I have no sympathy at all for them.

I think the people who are striking for this reason honestly need to get real. Even if it is a 'last resort', it isn't a good enough reason to strike IMO.

D

Deliaskis · 13/08/2010 09:47

Wish I could edit - shouldn't have said 'these people are hardly minimum wage workers to start with', as I actually don't know what these workers earn, was getting confused between BA and BAA. Apologies.

D

proseccogirl · 13/08/2010 10:37

YANBU - people should be grateful to have a job. If they don't like the terms and conditions of their employment they can either try and find another job, or they can decide to just put up with it.

BonniePrinceBilly · 13/08/2010 12:42

Who got me deleted? Angry

All I said was you selfish fuckers thinking your weekend away is more important than the wholescale erosion of workers rights and conditions.

Selfish fuckers selfish fuckers selfish fuckers. Go on, delete that!

fryalot · 13/08/2010 12:45

It always seems to be people who are about to be inconvenienced who think that strikes shouldn't be allowed, doesn't it...

There really is no point in striking at all if nobody notices

Tootiredforgodtyping · 13/08/2010 12:56

They don't get paid for striking. They quite often have to undergo financial hardship to strike so its only ever as a last resort. Haven't you ever heard of solidarity , OP?

Naetha · 13/08/2010 12:56

I'm all for striking for genuine reasons, but screw you with only getting a 1.5% pay rise. That's NOT what people threw themselves under the king's horse for (although that was womens' suffrage wasn't it?).

DH would love a pay rise after 3 years of a pay freeze and having his hours cut, and me being made redundant. THey should be grateful they've got a job at all.

Striking should be saved for stuff that really makes a difference to your life - major redundancies, having your hours/wages CUT by more than 5%.

I know who the selfish fuckers are here.

Janos · 13/08/2010 12:59

The whole point of strikes is to cause inconvenience, otherwise why have them.

The put up or shut up argument is daft.

Do people think workers have acheived rights and benefits purely due to the benevolence and kindness of their altruistic employers?

hmc · 13/08/2010 13:20

BonniePrinceBilly - I think you are in a minority there; most people seem to be erring toward the conclusion that it is the UNITE members who voted strike action who are the selfish fuckers !

hmc · 13/08/2010 13:21

Largely because they don't appear to have a particularly good case!

BonniePrinceBilly · 13/08/2010 13:35

I'm used to that! Grin

But the idea that you should be happy to have a job, unless its about health and safety you should never strike, its bollocks. Its that kind of attitude that drives conditions and wages down, that erodes our rights that were hard fought for.

People are jealous that they put up with all kinds of shit and want everyone else to as well.

Fuck that! Stttttt-Rike!!

hmc · 13/08/2010 13:41

I agree with you that there are all sorts of valid reasons for strike action - just don't think UNITE members have right on their side.

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 13/08/2010 13:41

YABU - the right to strike and challenge "the management" is the only thing that has estblished fairer pay and working conditions bosses didn't do it out of the goodness of their own hearts.

Removing the right to strike, hands power to the rich and sod the poor

hmc · 13/08/2010 13:46

That's not wholly true (she says in the manner of an irritating pedant) - one of the biggest impacts on workers term and conditions was two world wars, what historians call 'the participation effect'. The working classes were 'rewarded' with better rights of representation, the welfare state etc....(sorry, couldn't help myself, have been reading precisely about this recently)

But I agree that the right to strike is an important one. Don't think it is incompatible to believe in the right to strike whilst simultaneously denouncing this one as ill considered

BollockBrain · 13/08/2010 13:47

obviously none of the pro-strike people on here have holidays booked in the next few weeks.

Would you honestly not be a bit miffed that something YOU had saved up all year for could be taken away from you?

hmc · 13/08/2010 13:49

Of course they would! (be a bit miffed)