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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that people should be allowed to strike

191 replies

Kissmybaubles · 08/12/2022 19:40

I get it causes inconvenience, and there has been lots of strikes lately Royal Mail, railway, nurses and now paramedics.

I caught on the news this morning that the government are looking to put a stop to strikes. I just don’t think it’s right to take aways peoples right to strike… These people work hard and deserve a decent wage.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Quveas · 08/12/2022 19:43

If people want to strike, nothing in law will stop them. And good on them if they fight back. I'll be on their side, whatever the government throws at them.

StoneofDestiny · 08/12/2022 19:44

Of course people should be allowed to withdraw their labour ie strike.

Fragrantandfoolish · 08/12/2022 19:48

I think there should be limits. You should only accept certain jobs if you understand the importance to society, so for example paramedics or nurses. So as such only a certain percentage can strike, a certain amount need to stay.

im not overly supportive no,but that doesn’t mean I don’t think they have a case. I just think it’s incredibly difficult, as there is only so much money to go round and when taxes go up everyone kicks off. But where does the money come from to pay people more. It has to be taxes. But in a cost of living crisis, taxing people more is not accepted.

so many people say I support the strikes, but are also the first to kick off of the government says ok then your taxes are going up to pay for it.

lobsterkiller · 08/12/2022 20:04

I 100% support striking workers, until recently I was one. First time I've ever done so. It was the last resort for us and if we didn't nip it in the bud now, we would have been screwed over on everything moving forward.

I've been threatened with the police and by company policies. I'm not militant, I'm not aggressive, but those threats of intimidation towards me strengthened my resolve to hold the line.

The government are reading the mood of the country wrong.

PuttingDownRoots · 08/12/2022 20:07

I can also understand the military being pissed off at having to work extra, including over Christmas to cover Strikes when they do not have the right to strike themselves, and in some cases are on lower pay.

But I believe in the right to strike.

TooBigForMyBoots · 08/12/2022 20:08

It is up to society to understand the importance of certain jobs, pay them well and make them an attractive career prospect.

healthadvice123 · 08/12/2022 20:13

Most of us don't actually have the right to strike in all honesty and we have to leave and move on if we don't like things

pompei8309 · 08/12/2022 20:13

The one’s able to hold a country at ransom shouldn’t be allowed, and that should be clearly specified in their work contracts

Jellycatspyjamas · 08/12/2022 20:15

You should only accept certain jobs if you understand the importance to society,

The importance of the job should be reflected in appropriate pay and working conditions, thereby removing the need to strike.

doorheckk · 08/12/2022 20:16

The importance of the job should be reflected in appropriate pay and working conditions, thereby removing the need to strike.

yep

XenoBitch · 08/12/2022 20:16

Inconvenience and a threat to life are worlds apart though.

I don't think people in jobs that people rely on for safety/health should be allowed to strike. That is not to say I do not think they deserve better pay/conditions.

Fragmentsof2022 · 08/12/2022 20:16

Of course we should be allowed to strike. It’s a bloody fundamental right to be able to withdraw our labour.

Solidarity with the strikers ✊🏻

And absolutely Fuck the Tories 🖕🏻

Evvyjb · 08/12/2022 20:16

If a job is so vital that it not happening causes "meltdown", then that job should be one that is worth doing both in terms of pay and conditions. I am a striking worker. If others would like to come and do my job for the day please do. You are more than welcome. Perhaps it would garner more support!

Pointlessuser · 08/12/2022 20:19

Of course the government want the strikes stopped.

There’s only one common factor in all these strikes and that is the government.

Youthinkyoureuniqueyourejustastatistic · 08/12/2022 20:21

XenoBitch · 08/12/2022 20:16

Inconvenience and a threat to life are worlds apart though.

I don't think people in jobs that people rely on for safety/health should be allowed to strike. That is not to say I do not think they deserve better pay/conditions.

The problem being that nurses see the bad conditions as a threat to patient safety (I.e low resources/staff numbers/long hours/not enough rest time etc) - so the only way left they can make it safe is to strike.

ivykaty44 · 08/12/2022 20:21

I think there should be limits. You should only accept certain jobs if you understand the importance to society, so for example paramedics or nurses. So as such only a certain percentage can strike, a certain amount need to stay.

and then they will not be paid a living wage, numbers going into the prof will drop and it'll not be a good outcome fro anyone

ivykaty44 · 08/12/2022 20:23

Most of us don't actually have the right to strike in all honesty and we have to leave and move on if we don't like things

its illegal to prevent you from joining a union, you have the right to join a union and then would have the right to vote on strike action

Winterscomingagain · 08/12/2022 20:25

TooBigForMyBoots · 08/12/2022 20:08

It is up to society to understand the importance of certain jobs, pay them well and make them an attractive career prospect.

And also to realize that poorly paid workers need to have their meagre salaries boosted by other benefits so everyone loses out in the end.

TreadLight · 08/12/2022 20:29

Anyone can withdraw their labour at any time. We aren't slaves. But there can be consequences.

Strikes are different because, if we have a legal strike, we can withdraw our labour but the employer can't discipline or sack us as a result. To have this protection, there are certain rules to follow. The government is simply deciding whether these rules are still appropriate.

But you will still be able to withdraw your labour with consequences.

neverendinglauaundry · 08/12/2022 20:30

Right to strike is fundamental IMO

underneaththeash · 08/12/2022 20:30

Yes, but people are taking the mickey at the moment.

grafittiartist · 08/12/2022 20:32

Nobody is doing it lightly.
It's absolutely a workers right.
And in doing so, they are ensuring better conditions for the future.

LindorDoubleChoc · 08/12/2022 20:34

I'm conflicted on this. Almost everyone (except the highest paid 5% maybe) is facing a hard, hard winter. Why should only those in the public sector or unionised industries be able to strike? I'd love an 11% pay rise but it ain't going to happen. I work for a small trades company. My dh works for a University. We are going to have to swallow the price increases on our mortgage and utility bills and we both earn less than a train driver and I earn less than the average nurse, or teacher - and goes without saying have nothing like their pension provision.

I do not buy the argument that public sector workers are more valuable to the economy than anyone else. If we didn't have all the small businesses any more people would be complaining. Look at all the hundreds of theads on Mumsnet moaning about the increase in builders/plumbers/electricians/cafe/restaurant prices. Why do they think they are going up?

And this doesn't include everyone in the creative and leisure industries either.

There should be a general strike or no strikes imvho.

Florenz · 08/12/2022 20:35

I do agree with strikes but I think the Royal Mail strikes are a very bad idea since there are many other delivery companies out there that people will use while Royal Mail is on strike.

TheFairyCaravan · 08/12/2022 20:35

I'm really conflicted because I fully support DS2 who is a nurse and had voted to strike but isn't doing so because his trust didn't get the required numbers. However DS1 is a soldier and if he gets called into cover because people are striking over Christmas I'm going to be really pissed off. He's been deployed 2 out of the last 4 Christmases and has been called in for the floods over Christmas in the past.

I get that people want better pay and conditions but it's not fair to put in those who also have shit pay and conditions and who spend far too much time away from their families as it is

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