I never thought I'd ever agree with Teresa May but if the PCS strike it will be shameful

[Hassled]

Story is here.

I get that they're unhappy about threats to 8500 jobs and I sympathise, I really do. But don't fucking strike on a day that will cause massive disruption (how they can say it won't is beyond me) to people coming from other countries who did nothing to deserve it. Just let the Olympics happen.

I agree (again) with Ponders.

It's that ol' chestnut of, we can't have it all ways.

How much longer are 'we' going to put up with being kicked down, until we start to kick back ?

This country is great at moaning and whinging that things aren't right, yet when some people actually find some gumption and say "Oi ! Enough", we're still not happy, because 'it's not the right time', etc...

If we want to change things, it's got to start somewhere.

It makes me feel slightly ill to think that whilst the athlete's compete in the Olympics, and do their utmost to be the best of the best at what they do, we will have to put up with seeing these incompetent fuckwits gooning faces, grinning inanely, having a merry old time, and raving about what a success it has been. The Olympics wont be a success because of these fuckwits, it will (hopefully) be in spite of.

Shaming really. When the majority of them wouldn't know a day's hard work if it smacked them in the face.

If the weather warms up and the riots start again there will be far more to worry about than a strike

How much disruption will it cause? I live in Scotland. Most if the country will be just fine. Just some people in London will inconvenienced.

They have a right to strike.

And I think the cabbies were quite right.

It's no surprise border staff, bus drivers, train drivers etc are striking, I can't see it getting better any time soon. Did I hear IMF told Osborne austerity is too harsh in the UK and stopping any chance of growth? And I am sure on BBC breakfast there were claims it won't be till 2020, the UK will recover financially.

The Olympics are a shambles, the army being drafted in etc.

May is an auld bitch.

'the way the Govt is treating millions of decent people is what is "shameful"'
sums my feelings up.
this government don't care about ordinary people.
yet the moment their big part is affected they weep and wail.
there is more ot like than the olympics.

carla's right, the French go on strike quite a lot, doesn't put people off visiting France.

Theresa May has already stuffed the Olympics by relying on those stooges at Group4. And let's not forget they've just got away with killing a deportee - a man who was suffocated to death by Group4 goons, despite the protests of other passengers on the plane.

TM is also the bright spark who thought sacking loads of border guards would be a bright idea because whizzy computers could do their job. She was wrong and the queues at Heathrow have proved it. That's been going on for months now - the government has caused way more disruption than the strikers are going to.

And can we drop this tired canard about 'only X amount voted for the strike'? Only a minority voted for this sodding government, only a minority ever vote for any UK politician - if the only decisions that took effect were those where a majority of the electorate agreed, not just a majority of those who actually bother to vote, we'd never have a government. Which might not be such a bad idea, Belgium seemed to be doing quite well without one a few weeks back (I assume they have a government now, haven't checked)>

There seems to be a choice: the govt does what it likes and we just put up with it or groups of people go on strike at different times and for different reasons to make their point and embarrass them internationally. But that also shames those who have nothing to do with the govt but who have a certain amount of national pride/enthusiasm for a sports contest and want to put on a good show for the rest of the world.

I don't know which is worse, tbh. Either the govt behaves itself and gets its act together, or opposition groups should join up in a co-ordinated way (like the Occupy movement) and get them out, imo.

I'm not calling for armed insurrection, btw, so put down those pitch forks. The next elections will do.

I think I agree with most of the posters on here that there isn't much point in striking if it's done at a time that is 'convenient'. I do feel a bit apprehensive about how it will look to visitors etc, but on the whole, think it's time this government stopped messing with peoples lives and thinking they can decimate public services and yet still deliver to the same level as pre-cuts. And Theresa may is particularly unpleasant from what I can see too...

From the DM:

"Mr Cameron...said this morning: 'There was a 20 per cent turn out and a very narrow margin."

um...someone remind me how what percentage voted Tory in 2010?

I want the Olympics to run well. It won't run well if the PCS goes on strike. I think it's pretty sad that so many people are prepared to let their political views over-ride their national ones. This should be a chance to showcase Britain, and Britain isn't France.

And yes, the endless strikes in France do put people off visiting.

The unions aren't dong this to protect jobs, they're doing it to stick one up the Tories, and the more they act like children the less support they'll get from the general public. Remember that union membership in the private sector is tiny even though it's endemic in the public sector.

That's why the public sector has had, until recently, reasonable terms and conditions and pensions. The de-unionisation of the private sector has driven down pay, terms and conditions and pensions in that sector. Ordinary people are far worse off as a result. The only logical reason for bashing unions is if you are a fat cat - if you are an average earner or below, unions are a positive thing.

There's a difference Ponders. You are talking about whom most of the electorate voted for. DC is talking about how many people turned out.

If only 20% turned up to vote and 57% of them voted in favour of striking then in reality only 11% of staff actually felt strongly enough to vote yes. And just under half voted no. That's hardly a resounding endorsement to strike.

I think we'd also question the legitimacy of a general election where only 20% of the electorate turned up to vote. It also would beggar the obvious question of what is systemically wrong with the system such that only 20% of the voters bothered to turn out. The same question is valid here.

Personally I think striking now is a real shambles. We should be working together to show UK in the best light possible and attracting tourists to come spend their pennies here in the future. Striking in this context helps no-one.

Hassled I completely agree with you. I voted Tory and probably will again, but TM hasn't done a good job as HS which is a great shame for many reasons. However in this she is correct.

edam - a larger majority voted for a conservative government than voted for this strike.

We need legislation to say that the majority of a union membership have to vote for it in order for it to go ahead, rather than have the country held to ransom by a tiny number of aggrieved individuals.

edam

That's why the public sector has had, until recently, reasonable terms and conditions and pensions. The de-unionisation of the private sector has driven down pay, terms and conditions and pensions in that sector. Ordinary people are far worse off as a result. The only logical reason for bashing unions is if you are a fat cat - if you are an average earner or below, unions are a positive thing.

I could turn that round and say that the only logical reason for supporting unions is if you're self-entitled and you need to bully an employer to overinflate your salary.

yup, strike now for maximum disruption.

HO have been aware of unrest for years months and still want to squeeze until people have no life left in them, to fight or breathe in some areas

This is where Mumsnet is so useful, I honestly know no-one in real life who supports the strike but seems I'm in a minority here. Show's how divided we are as a country really.

I agree totally with Niceguy - 11% is NOT a mandate to embarrass Britain during the biggest world sporting event (well, since the last olympics).

I do think the coalition are cutting too hard too fast, but the PCS are being cynical in choosing the day before the games starts to strike.

flatpack-

I want the Olympics to run well.

Why?

It won't run well if the PCS goes on strike. I think it's pretty sad that so many people are prepared to let their political views over-ride their national ones.

Their political views? They're striking for their working conditions.

This should be a chance to showcase Britain, and Britain isn't France.

What's to showcase? How well the UK is willing to suck corporate cock? It certainly won't be to showcase how well-off and prosperous the British people are, who have the worst employment rights in the UK, work amongst the longest hours, and are, on average £8000 in debt (excl. mortgages). Showing off the levels of child poverty and wealth inequality in this country wouldn't be very impressive either.

And yes, the endless strikes in France do put people off visiting.

Because you say so? Because you don't like France? In actual fact, France is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

The unions aren't dong this to protect jobs, they're doing it to stick one up the Tories,

You know this how?

and the more they act like children the less support they'll get from the general public.

You mean Tories, like yourself. It's already obvious that the majority of MNers support the strikers. I support them.

Remember that union membership in the private sector is tiny even though it's endemic in the public sector.

Yes, which is why private sector wages are lower and private sector rights are worse than the public sector, in general. This is a great reason to promote unionism in the private sector.

I do think the coalition are cutting too hard too fast, but the PCS are being cynical in choosing the day before the games starts to strike.

In case you haven't noticed, there is class warfare going on. The rich are getting richer, the poor and the middle are getting poorer. Public services are being cut and workers rights are being attacked.

It's absolutely right that people take strike action when they have most leverage. You'd expect nothing less from the government who would 'cynically' use (as they are) any opportunity to cut wages, working conditions, and public spending.

You do realise that we - the West as a whole - are paying for the banking crisis with out livelihoods, don't you? The financial meltdown and recession was caused by the banks and financial institutions. Not teachers and nurses, not bus drivers, not cleaners, not the public. Yet the banks are still committing crimes whilst having billions of pounds thrown at them while the public suffer from spending cuts.

And you complain that strikers are being 'cynical' for striking during the Olympics?

Vicky2011

This is where Mumsnet is so useful, I honestly know no-one in real life who supports the strike but seems I'm in a minority here. Show's how divided we are as a country really.

MN is a very narrow clique - middle class, metropolitan, fairly socialist. It's like sing the Guardian as a social barometer for the country. If you can't be bothered to read the Guardian, MN is a great way to find out how Guardian-readers feel on any particular issue.

flat-

I could turn that round and say that the only logical reason for supporting unions is if you're self-entitled and you need to bully an employer to overinflate your salary.

Unionism is bullying, now?

So what do you call it when corporations consistently try to reduce wage costs - as they almost always do? Good business?

at me being 'middleclass, metropolitan, fairly socialist'

what a generalisation flat - by that you're including yourself, you know

Thing is it won't show bloody TM up as she's capable of wriggling out of anything as are most bloody politicians .

It'll be the knock on effect of disruption damaging the games which impacts on many services + businesses in getting+ around London, which is so alarming . With the crap summer we have had + the recession biting so deep we need to maximize every opportunity provided by the Olympics to help the economy.

The strikers have my every sympathy for their gripes but not now its bloody selfish + I think will lose them a lot of support