To no longer support strike action?

[Sobloodydone]

I live in Liverpool where there is currently a bus workers strike going on, entering its 4th week after a walk out demanding pay that meets inflation. They have been offered in increase that they turned down claiming it wasn’t enough.

I am beyond frustrated now as the entire city is pretty much out of action in regards to public transport. It’s costing £25 a day in taxis to get to work who have said no working from home and threatening termination if attendance is missed. It’s just not sustainable!

I am working class and long supported strikes and many people have the opinion we should be supporting them no questions asked but what about the thousands of people they are affecting? Nobody is getting the price of inflation matched within their wages. Supposed to believe we’re all in it together when supporting them but what about everyone else who can’t get to work/hospital/shops/see their elderly family?! It’s an indefinite walk out so god knows what will happen if kids can’t get to school in 3 weeks!

The strike is working then, isn't it?
You surely understand how strikes work.

And if the strike succeeds and pay/conditions are improved in this one sector, other employers will be forced to take notice and improve pay/conditions for their employees too. Yes, it’s tough at the moment, but that’s how change happens.

Strikes are meant to be inconvenient. That’s the point.

Sounds like that’s coming from someone who isn’t on the verge of losing their job over a strike that has nothing to do with them

My main issue isn’t with the strike intent anyway. It is the fact that some people are telling me I should be supportive regardless. I feel I am in the right to be upset that this could cost me my job?

I am working class and long supported strikes

Until one affected you personally. It's easy to support strike action that doesn't have any impact on you. I appreciate that the situation is frustrating, especially with your own employer being unsupportive, but the whole point of a strike is it needs to cause some disruption.

Is there anyone you can ride share with?

@Sobloodydone I know about the strike you are on about as it affects my area too . The strike isn't just about what they have been offered in pay rise it's also about the erosion of the working conditions for the drivers in terms of overtime and sick pay . I fully understand how frustrating this strike is though but have a good look into what it's about away from what the local papers are telling you

I too support strikes until they inconvenience me 🙄

Write to the transport bosses, your MP, the Council, the trade unions and anyone else who could have influence. Ask them to find a resolution.

That is the only way to see a change.

Can you cycle to work? Even a second hand bike would be cheaper than long term taxis.

Why are you angry at the strikers, who are presumably really up against it now they’ve lost 4 weeks pay, rather than angry with the bus company who haven’t managed to settle the dispute? It’s really tough, but pay deflation has been going on for too long now and what we’re seeing is the wealthiest increasing their share at above inflation rates while the rest of us get poorer.

Well your own job sounds shit too then and you should strike for better conditions

Honestly they are threatening you with termination and not allowing home working during a bloody bus strike - ffs like

Oh but it is everything to do with you.

You use public transport - this affects you.

Look up the new campaign 'Enough is Enough'. Working class need to come together and unite against the rich tax dodgers.

Why is it in 'crisis' it's only the working class who suffer? Not many millionaires have been feeling the pinch - it's been lucrative for them.

Many people are, in real terms, earning about 35% of what people were earning compared to cost of living 35 years ago.
The more people who strike about this, the more people will realise that they also need to strike for better pay and conditions.
Is there any way of finding a cheaper alternative to taxi’s? E.g.
2nd-hand bike
scooter/electric scooter
car-sharing/Uber sharing
asking work to organise a bus themselves?

Your employer sounds awful. Resign and become a bus driver. They're absolutely raking it in, getting pay rises every week, shift work though and issues with sick pay. Or does it not suddenly sound all that attractive and you realise why they're striking?

IMO any companies paying their execs a ridiculous wage whilst their lowest paid employees can't work out how to make their money stretch through the winter alongside poor working conditions deserves all the strike shit storms coming their way.

"Nobody is getting the price of inflation matched within their wages"

Many medium to higher earners are getting over 10% payrises and senior managers getting much more than that.

The lowest paid however are getting much much less. If you need bus drivers back at work then maybe we need to apply pressure to the employers, instead of asking low paid workers to accept their exploitation because it's personally convenient...

To be honest your own employer sounds pretty shitty to have no flexibility and offer no support to get to work. Perhaps you should organise your own strike!

I hope your job at least is something that requires you to be face to face, like hospitality, rather than something that could be done remotely?

You have the choice to support strike action or not, either as one taking the action or as one affected.

Some Tories want to take the option to strike away from many people.

Can you buy a secondhand bike? I think you could buy one for a week's worth of taxis.

I'd be frustrated too if I was you, but I think your employer needs to reimburse you for taxis if they want you to work from the office!

Nobody is getting the price of inflation matched within their wages

Well, these bus drivers will. Because they are striking. Maybe you should too if you're jealous about it.

YANBU

Nobody in the private sector has had a pay rise that even approaches inflation. And if they all - or even a high proportion - did, we'd be looking at even higher than the already-crippling levels of inflation.

I am also in the area and the bus drivers' salaries are high for Merseyside. I don't know anyone locally who supports the action..

Thanks for this, I've signed up!

I was told today I'm getting a pay rise of 5% after not having a pay rise in 4 years. So yet another pay cut. Unions are not happy and are balloting for strike action. It may not just be the buses on strike soon!

Not necessarily.

Striking doesn't equal get what you want.