Mick Lynch called for National Strike

Will he be on strike and losing pay? Or will he be ‘coordinating’ the strike and there getting his vet generous days pay?

That’s nothing to do with being employed by the state, anyone can be a member of a union.

Incidentally, I don’t know about other unions but the NEU are not paying strike money to striking teachers. There will be a hardship fund for those in extreme need, but most are losing pay to strike.

I'd rather see the voting system changed so we never again get a government with a massive majority elected by less than half the population.
Something needs to be done about the Press too.

I’m self-employed and would happily support a strike if the aim was to force an early election.

Having said this, I worry that I’d put so much faith in a different party fixing all our problems but in reality I think we’re so far down the hole it’s going to take decades to get us back out again.

It’s depressing living in this country at the moment. Everything feels like a struggle and I’m constantly worrying about money and what my life is going to look like at retirement 😕

I wouldn't partake, although I do support the strikes. I work for a small family-run firm who has just given us a 10% payrise, so it would feel unfair to punish my very reasonable boss as a byproduct.

Massively agree with this! The press in this country are an absolute joke and people like my DM believe every word they print 🙄

People really do have some odd notions. It shows how long it is since we've had meaningful industrial action in the UK.

I can remember both donating and collecting money to support firefighters and miners during strikes so that the workers would get a few quid to feed their families. Any money they got came from the union, not the employer, and many faced real hardship.

LONG overdue

In a society where people with full time jobs are using food banks while the government give their mates contracts that make them MILLIONS - it's time to stand up

No I don't think an 'all out' national strike is the way. The way to do this is a gradual build up to, small causing and building disruption, like a volcano.

People have to accept that to cause change it's going to hurt.

First thing is for people stop doing anything extra for free, then start working to your contracted hours regardless if this means people will suffer because they are suffering now and it's the long term suffering that's the worst. Stop doing any work in the holidays/at weekends etc. People volunteering do less hours etc.

I'm sorry but the government are replying on all the free stuff we give them and don't even pay properly for the stuff we're contracted to give them.

One day of disruption is a sharp prick of pain and it's gone. Low level continued pain that escalates is the way to go.

Also Mick Lynch is a cunt.

Do you know him well, @Oysterbabe ? I've only met him once, but found him quite charming and witty, in a wry sort of way.

But the teachers pay rises were funded out of the already slashed education budgets.

So the pupils - many of whom are the marginalised in society - are having finding taken from them.

That's the teachers point.

Oh and I'm in full support of it!

First thing is for people stop doing anything extra for free, then start working to your contracted hours regardless if this means people will suffer because they are suffering now and it's the long term suffering that's the worst. Stop doing any work in the holidays/at weekends etc. People volunteering do less hours etc.

This is what used to be called a "work to rule", where everybody just does their jobs according to their contracts.

It can be a surprisingly effective form of industrial action.

I need more money in the private sector- you know what I do, move jobs. Public sector can’t do that- it’s not that hard to comprehend

Unless of course you leave the public sector. And lose your pension, generous sick leave policies and make it much easier for your employer to get rid of you.

I’ve worked in both sectors. The benefits in the public sector were much, much better.

Oh that's a good idea we just need all those pesky nurses, teachers and ambulance drivers to bugger off to Aldi then there wouldn't be any more strikes.
Be careful what you wish for!

Well dh workplace is currently running a four day week so he is losing a day's salary already. My job is zero hours so little job security.
This government has fucked the country over and need to go, sooner rather than later and if a general strike forces the issue that can only be a good thing.

Yes I will join the general strike.

@NearlyMidnight FYI I’m self employed. I’d strike in a heartbeat. My staff can strike as well (all three of us!) if they wish. I’d do it to show my solidarity for others. And to demonstrate my total abhorrence for this government.

I’m a bit worried how I’ll get to the rally if trains are on strike but I’ll make it work.

I have 0 time for Mick Lynch.

It’s all very well constantly encouraging people to strike, but what people don’t seem to realise is that when you strike, you don’t get paid. So it’s estimated that rail workers are losing around £5000. A year by striking, meanwhile Mich Lynch is paid £95k a year and doesn’t lose a penny while standing on his soapbox and taking the credit for people losing money.

Yep!

You would need to be in a Union, yes, to benefit from the right to strike protection. Maybe now is the time to join one?

I thought the legislation going to the HoLs will make strikes illegal unless min service levels in place, which actually require more staff than are normally working, so effectively banning a strike unless you take annual leave

Oh and even then the thresholds on the strike ballot are increasing too.

I think all public sector workers should just walk out, inc NHS and not just for a day or two but indefinitely... problem is, people can't afford it, so the Tories will win again because they can afford the current wave of strikes and no striker will get more than 4 or 5%.

I haven’t been at all affected by any strikes so far so a general strike is probably the only way to make anyone take notice.

they don’t have the impact they used to.

Lynch gets 84k and donates his salary on strikes days to the union strike fund.

Are you angry that Sunak, with a fortune of £740m gets a salary of £162k ?

No thought not.

You might disagree that Sunak or indeed any current politician is worth £162k but surely doing one of the most important jobs in the country is worth that? ( and I do stress if it’s done well).
I can’t believe it’s only worth twice as much as a union leader.
That’s like saying someone working at Tesco gets £18k so a surgeon should only be paid £36k.