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

They've been offered a better pay deal. I actually agree with the government on this one that they can't set a precedent for giving much more.

I've heard it all now - education will become private

Only idiots, brainwashed capitalists or rich people out of touch lack sympathy in this situation.

Workers are allowed to unite and leverage the only tool they have. Otherwise it's not much of a democracy is it?

Why shouldn't people have good working conditions, good pay, make a good living? Why would anyone be against that?

If teachers are so important they shouldn't be striking, pay them to reflect that. If railworkers are so important, treat them as so.

If the CEO of royal mail who is a useless feck deserves a 6 figure bonus, why don't the actual workers deserve more pay? Enough is enough.

@MarshaBradyo are vulnerable people, kids and the sick suffering or not ? You sound very well insulated from it all if you think not. Or you just don't care.
Some posters are indeed stuck in a bubble of affluence, mainly in London and the south east. The EU referendum result was a misguided response to the economic divide in this country and the whole liberal metropolitan elite trope bandied about at the time was only partly inaccurate.
The economic impact from Covid would have been far worse without lockdown. Sadly the UK is full of hypocrites. Moan about 'benefit scroungers' but happy to make fraudulent use of all the financial help offered. Know a few locally who did it. Maybe Sunak should chase all those people...

I care not necessarily for same reasons. The impact of last few years has been tough for many.

If you can think of a way public sector workers can strike while somehow inconveniencing the government but not the public I'm sure they'd love to know.

@SleeplessInEngland in the days of ticket offices, refuse to collect fares. So only a small proportion go on strike but the service can run.

Was done in either Melbourne or Sydney.

Agreed. This is all just getting us closer to privatisation.

And probably be taken to court for either theft or fraud or both. Ending up with a criminal record. And still nothing down about pay and conditions. But results in a beaten workforce and an employer who now knows they can get away with whatever they want and the employee and end customer/patient etc be damned as well.
Mass withdrawal of labour is the only option as said in a pp.

Great, and what do nurses and teachers do?

Neither political party has any plans to privatize health or education ( despite the bullshit Labour trots out ) however these strikes will prove largely ineffective and in the case or Royal Mail and the Railways may even result in widespread redundancies.

Sadly, education will become more funded by parents; this is already happening slowly where schools are asking for more voluntary contributions. State schools in wealthy areas can provide more things as parents are able to contribute more, including the pta activities

Just found out my daughter school have planned 4 days of strikes/loss in education between now and March on the other hand they have sent us 3 letters because we took her out of school for 3 days for a very important family event overseas and keep treating us with a penalty if her attendance fall below 95%.

YANBU.

I'm making sure my kids will have skills in demand worldwide.

I doubt their future is here in this country.

In this country despite working your arse off and finally getting a professional job there still isnt even a guarantee of basic healthcare or dental care unless you arrange it privately.

My nieces and nephews in Sweden will not have to worry about their education- it is all paid for by the government.

They will not have to worry about getting sick, there is good healthcare.

They wont have to worry about funding private education for their kids.

They will never have to worry about paying their rent as long as they are in a job. Housing is good quality and affordable.

And you dont have to be in the top 10% of earners to be in this position.

I think some strikes may have an impact & more public sympathy eg NHS.

But others such as Royal Mail & rail workers - will have less - since covid, fewer of us use rail or postal services so there is less impact & inconvenience.

Teachers - well, we had long periods of home working/schooling during covid, so again it is not having the same impact or inconvenience.

I'm making sure my kids will have skills in demand worldwide.

I doubt their future is here in this country.

Doing the same here, I think it's their best option.

It is sad but I agree; the UK is going downhill. The UK reminds me now of the country I come from when I was growing up; eventually education, health, postal services became private. They are still a few state schools but for the very poor and education isn’t great so no chances for those kids to get ahead in life. There is a massive gap between poor and rich 😢

What’s the demographic like?

Here we have more receiving benefits than paying taxes there’s no wonder we’re feeling the strain.

For my dc I’m happy with London as one option but they know the expense already. They love it as a city but I could see the oldest taking what he wants to do o/s as it seems a degree with good options.

If the U.K. does lose many higher tax payers when Labour get in I agree it’s going to be tough as tax burden gets bigger for lower earners.

We could go but I still love London so will try to stay

Frankly, the public deserve to suffer. The majority have stood quietly at the sides while the tories asset stripped the country, bled public money into private pockets, and decimated public services.

The fact that so many of the public continue to support the government, or at the very least refuse to support the strikers, means they should reap the consequences of their actions i.e., the breakdown of services.

It's just a shame those of us who do support this part of the proletariat have to suffer too because the bourgeoisie and a section of self-loathing workers can't stomach the thought of someone bettering themselves or getting something they've not got.

Very true!

Strikes and threatened strikes have been working all over the UK. It depends on whether the employer is reasonable or not.

When your pay is decided by this corrupt, shitty, self-pocket-lining government it seems far less likely to achieve much.

If my kids stay here.

Despite working hard, and getting a professional job as a teacher/ in the NHS.

I will worry how they will pay their bills, will they be able to find an affordable place to live? How will their kids get healthcare or dental care? And what the education system will be like for their kids.

People who are professionals shouldn't have to worry about basics like this. It should be a given if you work full time you shouldn't need benefits/ tax credits or the food bank to feed yourself or your family.

Something has gone completely wrong if NHS workers/ paramedics/ teachers/ postal workers etc feel they need to strike.

You are comparing the incomparable. Strike action has government policy to follow. Children attendance at school has government policy to follow.

Unions/DfE/education HR set/agree policy for strike action, in accordance with government policy. Schools have to follow it.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128077/Handling_strike_action_in_schools.pdf

The government (DfE) sets guidance for attendance. Schools have to follow it.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance

Two sets of guidance, achieving two separate things. Can't compare them.