Page 5 | To think that people should be allowed to strike

Kissmybaubles · 2022-12-08T19:40:44+00:00

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?

Catspyjamas17 · 09/12/2022 07:08

If rail workers don't strike there will be mass redundancies, as rail companies want unmanned stations and no guards on trains. Which is not what rail passengers want.

There is also a massive staff shortage to serve the current high passenger demand for train services. So train companies have to listen to what staff and passengers want.

CourtneeLuv · 09/12/2022 07:10

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.

Make big Starbucks, google, boots etc pay their full taxes. Tax the energy companies and banks. Don't allow profiteering.

thinkponk48 · 09/12/2022 07:13

I work in central London. The train strikes haven't effected me too much as I can simply work from home, same with many colleagues and friends. Most people o work work have simply said "they won't go into London between now and Christmas". This has no effect on their jobs.

It does however have a huge effect on all the bars/ restaurants/ shops. Most aren't bothering with Christmas parties as travel is such a pain. A lot of hospitality business will have been relying on the income from the pre Christmas crowd, it's just not going to happen this year.

Arewethebadguys · 09/12/2022 07:17

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.

Maybe there would be more money if government ministers didn't line their pockets during covid with massive contracts for friends and family.

I hate this bullshit. What that quote? 'The rich have convinced the middle class yo blame the working class' or words to that effect.

How many people lost their homes in 2008? I know loads. How many bankers prosecuted? 0
Utter bullshit

There's money when they think it's important. Nurses, teachers, workers just aren't that important to the govt

Metabigot · 09/12/2022 07:21

noideabutstilltrying · 09/12/2022 06:41

@Metabigot he is worried about job security. Part of why he's striking

Owner drivers mean that people would be given ever increasing amounts of drops to complete

There are other delivery companies out there. They are struggling and have backlog of parcels which is being widely reported

Thats the most kafka esque thing i ever heard.

He's worried about job security so striking, which will damage the business and lose custom long term, leading to further job insecurity will make it better how?

You can't strike your way to better market conditions. No company should ever be held to a demand of no compulsory redundancies.

Metabigot · 09/12/2022 07:24

Catspyjamas17 · 09/12/2022 06:44

Is he not worried that the business is losing custom to other couriers now and they won't necessarily return to Royal Mail

That problem is for the business owners, not the workforce. At least in a situation where there is also a labour shortage.

Absolutely agree with the right to strike and am fundamentally opposed to any reduction in these rights.

It's certainly a problem for the workforce when the business contracts and they Nedd to make redundancies.

Less trade = less money and less demand for staff.

Myrevengewillbesweet · 09/12/2022 07:31

Absolutely and fuck the Tories!!!

CrapOnASchtick · 09/12/2022 07:43

Sadly I agree with PPs about royal mail strikes being a bit of an own goal.

As a small business owner who used royal mail to send multiple parcels every day, I'll be using other couriers now and won't be going back after the strike action ends either.

Noodledoodledoo · 09/12/2022 08:00

I'm a teacher, I agree with the right to strike, however what we are allowed to strike for is not always what we are really unhappy about.

We are currently being balloted to strike, it's for our pay rise for 22/23 (5% for the majority, 8% for those with less service) to be fully funded to schools. It was announced after budgets planned and no further funding into the schools budget - so schools have to find it from already squeezed resources. On top of increased bills like the rest of the country.

Yes I would like a higher % however our complaint isn't that, it's the fact it is unfunded, the fact this will mean in some schools redundancies, poorer teaching as support staff won't be replaced if they leave, less teaching assistants in classes, this makes teaching harder, less support fir SEN. This is the reasons but the press will just say we want more money.

I try to not just take the press at face value over strikes as I know how badly teaching strikes are reported.

I guess a lot in the current industries striking would struggle to 'go and get another job' as if I want to still be a teacher there aren't many options of alternatives (private schools are often worse off in terms of working conditions), in the private sector there is the potential for lots of people to look else where, I worked in private sector before I retrained.

Newmama29 · 09/12/2022 08:07

amylou8 · 09/12/2022 06:02

As much as it go against my libertarian views, no I don't think they should. Work to rule, yes..hold the country to ransom by striking from critical roles no. If you don't like your job there's plenty more out there.

This is a ridiculous view to have. That’s the reason we’re choosing to strike in the first place, because thousands of nurses & health care workers are choosing to leave the profession with no one to replace them. Who’s going to care for you or your family when everyone is so sick of the working conditions & pay that they all leave?

I also love the view that people have that only certain jobs should be allowed to strike because it doesn’t affect them. That’s the whole point of a strike, to cause disruption & make a case. People are so self involved these days that as long as it doesn’t affect them they don’t care.

CrapOnASchtick · 09/12/2022 08:31

I also love the view that people have that only certain jobs should be allowed to strike because it doesn’t affect them

This is already the case though isn't it? For example police officer's cannot strike. Neither can the military or prison workers (for reasons I'm assuming are obvious to everyone) the explanation given is 'a matter of public safety', I would assume healthcare workers also fall into the category of public safety.

So I'm assuming you agree that those examples above should also be allowed to strike too? I'm not saying I do or do not, I'm curious whether people really mean this 'everyone should be allowed to strike' stuff.

CrapOnASchtick · 09/12/2022 08:34

I know they are very well loved here but the thought of police being on strike makes me a bit terrified personally!

CrapOnASchtick · 09/12/2022 08:34

Aren't very well loved**

Newmama29 · 09/12/2022 08:38

@CrapOnASchtick yes I believe everyone should have the right to strike, including military & police. If the government cared enough for public safety, they wouldn’t let it come to a strike & would negotiate an appropriate solution to working conditions & pay. Not all health workers are allowed to strike, I work in emergency receiving & I don’t think we will be allowed to strike & ED/ICU aren’t allowed either. Emergency services will be covered for EMERGENCIES, not the shite that comes through the door on a regular basis.

TheGoogleMum · 09/12/2022 08:40

Workers need to be allowed to strike or we will all have terrible pay and conditions! When healthier strikes they do still have some staff working to try to minimise loss of life, staff don't want patients to suffer. Nurses aren't paid enough for the expectations of the job and are working in unsafe conditions as the job is so shit nobody wants to do it. Let's pay them fairly and make the job a bit more desirable! At the moment they can work in a supermarket for a relatively small pay drop and massively less stressful job

DrManhattan · 09/12/2022 08:42

100% support the strikers
100% support the right to strike
If there is one near you go and show your support, if you can

Sapphire387 · 09/12/2022 08:49

Of course people should be allowed to strike. We have most of our employment laws due to the actions of trade unions. Rights don't have handed out for free - if they cannot be negotiated, they are fought for and won.

Sapphire387 · 09/12/2022 08:49

Don't *get

GetThatHelmetOn · 09/12/2022 08:50

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.

^ This, if their jobs are so essential they should have kept them in a reasonable salary over the years. If it comes to that point is because they have not given the priority they deserve.

And what else can they do? With a government who can dismiss petitions, which have been signed by thousands and thousands of people, with no more than a deflective sentence, it is no surprise we are were we are.

What are we seeing these days is the result of a self serving government who ignores the basic needs of society. Honestly, just an example of this is that Liz Truss may have apologised for her stupid economic experiment, but an apology doesn’t remove the fact that we all will pay for it by the thousand, that people would lose homes, and that their families are cold and hungry.

Dragonskin · 09/12/2022 09:07

*Most letter post is junk mail. Documents can be scanned sent and even signed electronically these days, more and more will be now.

The vast majority of people have access to email.*

And the one place that seems to be incapable of embracing new technology? The NHS, that still insists on letters through the post being the only way to notify you of the appointment which has been booked on a random date. It'll be interesting to see how many no shows there are for appointments

MiniFig · 09/12/2022 09:13

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!

Good luck!!

Reading the comments here makes me want to weep. You've all grown up on a diet of the govermnent telling you unions are evil.
Well now the government are rolling pack workers' rights, you can see how evil unions are, can't you.

Join. A. Union.

If you think they'Re inefficiant, stand as a rep and improve it. If you think you don't need one - give back all the rights unions have won for you over the years and try to win them back as an individual. Do feel free to let us know how you get on.

CousinKrispy · 09/12/2022 09:17

Taking away the right to withhold labour seems like a terrible idea to me. It is fundamental.

And I say that as someone who could have been joining strikes recently but hasn't.

The government is fundamentally wrong on this.

MiniFig · 09/12/2022 09:28

I believe in the right to strike, but if someone I love dies through lack of medical treatment then I will hate the strikers who caused it.

The government. The government have caused it.

A couple of years ago the government drew up a list of who are key workers. They were listed and named. And they kept the country running. So it would be great if the government would refer to that list and - oh i dn't know - improve the terms and conditions of those valuable people instead of giving grifters like Michelle Mone and Dido Harding piles of money for nothing.

Dotjones · 09/12/2022 09:31

Under the proposals people will still be able to withdraw their labour. People can't be compelled to work. All the changes will do will raise the stakes, if people decide to withdraw their labour they have to face the risk that they will not have a job to go back to.

If someone is unhappy enough to strike, they should be looking at alternative employment.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 09/12/2022 09:37

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 🖕🏻

So this is a political protest?