Rishi Sunak is working on tough new anti-strike laws

[Emotionalsupportviper]

We don't have a government in this country any more.

We have a dictatorship.

Many thanks for clarifying however I understood the reason why.

Where is the government's compassion?

The government which has steadily, for over a decade, underfunded and over-managed the NHS until it is on it's knees?

The government which claims not to have any input into transport workers negotiations, while it is., in fact, pulsing the strings, telling the managements not to offer anything and supporting those companies with millions of pounds weekly? This is a deliberate attempt to take the people's only power - the strength of their union, the weapon of their labour - away from them.

This could all be sorted, very easily. Listen to people. Let fair negotiations take place. It is a government which wants a return to a totally crushed workforce which is causing this situation. NOT uncaring union members.

“I don't believe those providing critical services should be allowed to strike - they shouldn't be allowed to put vulnerable people nor the country at risk (yes that means they need other ways of having their voice heard)“

But the nurses are doing this BECAUSE vulnerable are ALREADY at risk. Poor pay has led to poor retention and recruitment of staff and therefore less nurses available to care for you. Staff to patient ratios are now unsafe and getting worse.

Well said.

Over-worked and exhausted medical staff puts lives at risk.

Lack of nurses, doctors, and ancillary staff puts lives at risk.

People making health policies when they have no idea of the nuances involved in health care in general, and in individual aspects of health care in particlar, puts lives at risk.

The Tories want to force us into a private health care scheme. There are many good schemes in other countries - but I can promise you that it isn't Germany's healthcare system, or France's we will be pushed into, it will be America's. America's healthcare system is their leading cause of bankruptcy and homelessness.

Staff to patient ratios are now unsafe and getting worse.

... so it's a great idea to exasperate this by withholding labour...?! Come on, isn't it obvious that isn't the right solution?!

It's second only to the demands of nurses 5% + inflation (currently 17%) - in what world, and under whose mathematics or logic, does that stack up as fair and affordable?!

What is the right solution @ExpectMore ? What would you do if you were a health worker under intense strain, barely able to live on your wage, traumatised by the last few years, tempted to walk away from your career because of not being able to provide decent healthcare to people who need it?

I think they've raised all these concerns nicely. Many times. It's not new. The government solution is to ignore it and hope people start calling for privatisation before too many people die on trolleys in corridors.

What would you do?

@ExpectMore

I don't understand why it's such a hard to grasp concept? Not why it's somehow so horrendous to want to protect the vulnerable in our country?

It is the GOVERNMENT'S job to protect the vulnerable of the country - and many of those vulnerable have worked hard for the country.

The government is the uncaring partner in this relationship - not the unpins.

The government is the abusive partner - the unions the desperate woman pushed to the end of her tether, terrified for the future of her children in this toxic relationship, who has tried over and over to break free and has now decided it's NOW.

*unions, not unpins

<bugger>

The problem is (to use your analogy, which I think it a good one!) she's not breaking free, she's withdrawing vital care from the children to get what she wants from the partner.

If she were to break free, she'd vote with her feet and (in this case) seek alternative employment.

I've always thought the best way to withhold labour is to resign....

Maybe all these pay demands should be assessed by the same 'impartial' body that assesses MPs pay? MPs seem pretty happy with their frequent pay rises, they've all had a recent bung, again. I've not heard any of them complain about this, haven't been told the country cant afford it etc. Let the MP pay review body decide on NHS workers, transport, post, etc. No? Thought not.

@Squamata

• What is the right solution @ExpectMore ? What would you do if you were a health worker under intense strain, barely able to live on your wage, traumatised by the last few years, tempted to walk away from your career because of not being able to provide decent healthcare to people who need it?

I think they've raised all these concerns nicely. Many times. It's not new. The government solution is to ignore it and hope people start calling for privatisation before too many people die on trolleys in corridors.

What would you do?*

I can't answer definitely as it depends on a complex situation that will be specific to each individual.

Options (not exhaustive, examples only) I would however consider are:
a) raise my voice via standard campaigning and democratic means (social media campaigns, petitions, via my union*)
b) if I'm unable to live on my wage, consider how to balance my personal budget. Look for opportunities to spent less. Consider what life choices I've made and if they are affecting my ability to balance my books? Could I love to a less expensive area? Drive a more economical car? Take the bus / bike to work?
c) look at how to increase my income - come I seek promotion? Could I change employer (to private sector)? Could my partner do something to increase family income?
d) if I can't take the intensity, seek time out

Pretty basic stuff to be fair?

*although I accept that unions may not be a viable solution given they've been ineffective at solving the issue for the nurses this far

Do your research... an independent pay body has recommended a pay award, which the government accepted...! 🤦‍♀️

The issue is the greedy unions wants more

@longwayoff to save you searching:

healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/30/nhs-industrial-action-media-fact-sheet-2/

And yet other independent bodies have suggested pay awards for other workers, which the govt. has immediately refused to implement . . .

And how you can complain about the greed of the unions when comparing them with govt, I don't know.

What is your criterion for "greed"?

No she's not. She's getting the children out of a dangerous and damaging household.

Yes - they may have to spend some time - maybe even a couple of years - in bed and breakfast or other far from ideal accommodation, but they aren't being subjected to brutality and constant emotional damage day in day out. She's taking a short-tern hard route to ensure future health and security.

Perhaps if he and his govt spent a tenth of the effort they are determined to spend trying to criminalise the right to strike...and spent it getting round the table with the unions, they might actually achieve something.

I am afraid, that the bleat that ' there is no money' from a govt that manages to find it for their cronies to line their pockets . Let alone the gazillions promised every time a prime minister needs to grandstand in Ukraine , makes all the 'we can't afford it' sound like yet more lies.

It's about priorities. The NHS, public sector and rail infrastructure ARE the countries priorities and should be funded accordingly.

@longwayoff

Again, some further facts that discount your narrative that you may wish to consider (or just ignore and continue to not let the facts get in the way of a good diatribe of hate):

MPs were awarded what was recommended by independent body: 2.7%

Government (I accept not all MPs are in the government) accepted NHS pay review body recommendation of a 4.75% increase

I.E. MPs "awarded themselves" (in your speak) less and in both cases, followed the recommendations of an independent body. What more do you want?

References below for your convenience:

www.theipsa.org.uk/news/press-releases/ipsa-announces-mps-pay-for-2022-23

www.unison.org.uk/news/2022/11/workforce-plan-and-proper-pay-rise-vital-to-secure-nhs-future-says-unison/

I agree nurses are striking for good reason and that includes patient protection in the longer term.
However I expect there will be some deaths which will be blamed on the strike. ( and I expect I would be highly aggrieved if it were my family) The backlash of those deaths could turn some public opinion against nurses.

This is the legacy of 12 years of Tory austerity and misrule though. People have had real terms paycuts for a decade and are now expected to take huge real terms pay cuts at a time of rampant inflation.

The government is rolling in money.

There is so much money that all their friends got hundreds of millions each for dodgy PPE deals and 30 billion to give away to the stock markets a few months ago, which also made their pals a lot of money on the stock market fluctuations.

If there's so much cash floating around for the top, it can be made available for the plebs as well

Ultimately if people don’t get paid enough to live they leave for jobs that pay better. Then there are staff shortages and the quality of services decline (bigger classes in schools/lots of supply teachers/not enough nurses so longer waits for medical care).

I’d rather they went on strike to achieve better wages than leave. Although what I’d really rather have is that these jobs were paid a proper rate in the first place.

Do some research:

UK general government gross debt was £2,436.7 billion at the end of Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2022, equivalent to 101.9% of gross domestic product (GDP)

We're rolling it in so much that we're in £2.4 Trillion of debt.... 🤦‍♀️

Thats a complete red herring and you know it... we aren't about to go bankrupt.

The choice we have is no NHS as more and more staff leave or we fund it, the little old lady isn't getting an ambulance right now... with one NHS director saying we are about to have a service where unless you are about to die, we wont be able to come to you...

You seem completely unable to process this.

Spot on

@CuriousMama @Leemoe

You do realise that pretty much anyone who donates to any green cause is likely to have (indirectly) shares in oil given the vast majority of pension funds (which we're all connected to) invest in oil related companies...?

Fake news and another time wasting conspiracy theory