To think strikes won’t achieve anything in the UK

[Sunshineseabeach]

What are people opinions; In my opinion education and health will eventually become private and the gap between rich and poor will become bigger

Unfortunately I’m not convinced they will - but I hope I am wrong.

Strikes won't achieve anything unless they're much harsher - 100% of a profession out of action with no stand ins. But of course organising that would be a nightmare.

What’s the answer then?

I also don’t think they will make any difference, only because they’re not going far enough, but to go to the level they’d need to affect change it would be brutal for everyone

They already have, haven’t they? Govt started to make noises about offering a flat rate pay settlement for this year for nurses and I think had moved on either the rail or post dispute, can’t recall which.

I don't understand how all these under paid public sector employees can afford to strike

Many can’t. They are thinking of their long term prospects and taking the hit.

Hope that’s the case

They can’t afford not to. Often, losing one days wage doesn’t make as much difference to a wage slip because it all comes off before tax etc, so you save 20% plus whatever NI/pension/student loans deductions you would normally have in that pay period.

I was deducted £180 from my wage but I was only £123 short on my wage.

I wish I have an answer. I just feel the UK is going downhill. I know there are lots of reasons, Brexit being one of then, perhaps the main one

They can’t afford not to.

I understand why people strike, but stupid and tone deaf politicians won't come up with sensible solution, I'm afraid. UK became horrible when it comes to distribution of goods. GDP is similar to Germany. Why healthcare is so crap then? Why public services are so crap? Pensions are non existent. Sick pay is non existent. Same for maternity leave. Housing is absolute crap.

They won't achieve anything.

They're also making the public suffer as a result of a dispute between government and employees. Eventually sympathy will run dry.

Mostly the public will suffer I agree.

Exactly @MarshaBradyo

Strikes make ordinary and vulnerable people suffer - kids, sick people, expectant mothers, workers trying to get to the office or home to their families. They don't really affect the government, especially now when there have been so many strikes by so many unions and politics is so polarised that no one is going to not vote Tory because of yet another strike.

I dont think public sector strikes work as well because they inconvenience the public in the hope they blame the government who then worry enough about votes to change. But i am not sure when an election isnt due and the opposition isnt popular that it has that impact.
However there arent many other ways to draw attention to issues like this.

The public is already suffering and that is why they are striking.

Withdrawing labour (striking) is the only real way people have of making their displeasure heard. The only
other solution is mass resignation. Anything else is not hurting employers profits and shareholders dividends. Those to things being affected makes the employers listen to workers demands.

Yep. It might impact if there was a GE now but Labour wouldn’t be able to pull the funding together to go over inflation either.

Although they are closer to the unions so they’re making more promises. If they were in it’d likely go as the 70s did with switch and more laws as a result.

Anyway it’s tough on those impacted especially after pandemic closures.

@roarfeckingroarr aren't kids, sick, vulnerable already suffering ? And aren't the strikers the 'public' ? You are talking as if everything is currently fine and dandy. Fact: it's not. Unless of course like some regular posters on here you live in a prosperous part of London with no financial worries whatsoever and head firmly stuck in sand.

Most can't but realise that this is the only way to get the government to take notice so are taking the hit. It is something DH had to really consider before voting to strike (teacher).

How do you know which posters live in prosperous part of London?

and ‘head in sand’ hmm yes that was said a lot during pandemic too re the virus and look at economic impact from those decisions.

Yes but now with continued strikes coming form all angles the public are suffering more and more. Sympathy has already run out for rail strikes, it won't be long before sympathy runs out for NHS and teachers too.

The government better start talking with the unions then.

Even the rail minister has admitted that working to resolve the rail disputes would have cost less than strikes.

The NHS and teachers don’t want sympathy. They want pay and conditions.