to think that the strikes on weds

[nikon1968]

not many people will even notice.

Lots of schools have random days off

Lots of operations and routine appointments get cancelled all the time

Lots of times per year the bins get emptied late because of bank hols and snow etc.

I doubt most people will even notice.

I hope you are wrong and that the strike has a strong impact.

The trouble is, we live in a society where people are out for their own gain and not the common good, so the 'I'm all right, Jack'-ers will complain about the impact on THEM, and blame the strikers for the inconvenience rather than looking at WHY the strikers are striking.

for me it will be wonderful: having spent 7 bloody years juggling work with a chronically ill dd- here is a day when neither dh and I have to go to work and it won't matter if she collapses at 7.30 in the morning

I do try to sympathise with the people who are inconvenienced by it, honestly I do

but one day...

A friend of mine is flying into the UK for a much longed for visit. She will definitely notice the 12 hour queues at immigration. The worst bit, she doesn't live here, so the strike will be affecting people who don't have a say (no vote) in how things are run.

I don't agree with the strike action one bit. I also don't agree with the cuts to the public sector, surely in times of economic downturn you should be spending MORE on this sector and also on infrastructure.

I also can't be doing with the fact that the people making the decisions on both sides are on six figure salaries and wouldn't know financial hardship if it smacked them one in the face!

Also delays at airports ................ a very normal thing.

I'm behind the strikes. Am a little bored of the multiple threads on it though, sooner they're over the better! Won't affect us, I don't work and DH is private sector, no kids at school etc.

Really? Queuing for 12 hours? I don't think that's normal. I've queued for 1 1/2 hours in immigration before and it was hideous. The corridors were spilling over with people, packed in and there was nowhere to go. And that was only for 90 minutes.

They have been talking about calling in the Army - for crowd control one assumes. Also holding people in the planes until there is some space - thus causing "gridlock" as other planes won't be able to come in if the stands are full. And departures would get snarled up in that too, so crowds there too.

If your itinerary can be changed, it's worth doing so. Some airlines are offering free rebookings as everyone wants to minimise the number of travellers that day.

I hope you are wrong and that the strike has a strong impact.

Yes, it would be nice for someone's operation to be cancelled because of the strike.

If these people's jobs are so important to the economy/health/education/running of the country why are they all viewed as idle well paid fat cats with loads of perks and gold plated pensions.

Either what they do is important to the country and the country should therefore pay them proper wages and pensions, or it isn't and we won't need to call in the army, uncleared security workers, close schools and make this big general fuss about how much it is all going to cost.

Which is it?

Which is it?

The latter.

Judging by the number of threads on this topic recently, YABU.

But the number of threads on it are only really aimed at teachers.............and that is because of childcare.

If teachers were exempt from this strike and just the hospitals, bin men, airport people etc took part I expect it will go by unnoticed.

I for one knew of this proposed strike about a month ago therefore asked for an appropriate shift ages ago to cover my child care. This is what I would of done if there was a random day off.

People are only bothered because of the teachers, and although I disagree with the strike this is not a pop at them just an observation that they are the only ones people are moaning about because it is the main one that effects them.

Not one person on here is grumbling because their bins will be emptied a day late.

I was pleased to read the Guardian and the Times yesterday, precisely because they are covering the Public Sector strikes and not just ranting on about the teachers.
Unlike MN.