So When Would You Hold A Strike?
The workers in the Home Office and The Border Officials that look after people arriving at the airports are unhappy with their wages, conditions and pensions(and the loss of jobs)
It's yet another section of workers/society that are unhappy with the Government and it's policies. Whether you dislike strikes or unions, politicians and this particular Government often this is the only way the public can make it's voice heard. Whether the public agree or it gets the population at large backs up.
Also whether, the Government takes a blind bit of notice or carries on regardless. They are only one of many workers who have in recent months made it clear how unhappy they are and these have included teachers, Job Centre staff, even Dr's who you would not normally associate with taking such action. Sometimes it's strikes other times it's more like they will only do the minimum asked of them in their contract.
I am surprised that many who are unhappy have not decided to take their action when it would have most affect, is it because they are afraid of a media and public backlash? Because if I wanted to get maximum coverage and have the most affect this is the time to do it, when the Olympic Games are taking place(I have to say I am not inciting people to do so)in this day and age you are likely to find yourself in court for suggesting such a thing as some were when riots kicked off last year.
Naturally, the action of the Home Office staff to strike(the day before the opening ceremony, I believe)has been condemned by the Government of course.
But if I was in charge of a union or wanted to make a point, you would do it when it will cause the most disruption, when you have the World's media in town and other countries of the world watching a global event. It allows maximum publicity and shows that some of the show that is being put on hides the fact that this country does have problems and not everyone is happy.
After all the Olympics is more than a sporting occasion for the host country, it is a big promotional event with the main reason for hosting it us to try and get more tourists and businesses to come here.
No doubt at the opening and closing ceremonies we will see and hear from officials and politicians quite a few speeches which the public do not want to hear. I understand past and present Prime Ministers have been invited to the opening ceremony. I'm afraid there cannot be many still alive.
Off the top my head, I can think of Tony Blair, John Major, David Cameron(that's about it))one has said he will attend the event but not the opening ceremony, that's Gordon Brown. There is Margaret Thatcher but I fear she will be too frail. But she may surprise us.
It's yet another section of workers/society that are unhappy with the Government and it's policies. Whether you dislike strikes or unions, politicians and this particular Government often this is the only way the public can make it's voice heard. Whether the public agree or it gets the population at large backs up.
Also whether, the Government takes a blind bit of notice or carries on regardless. They are only one of many workers who have in recent months made it clear how unhappy they are and these have included teachers, Job Centre staff, even Dr's who you would not normally associate with taking such action. Sometimes it's strikes other times it's more like they will only do the minimum asked of them in their contract.
I am surprised that many who are unhappy have not decided to take their action when it would have most affect, is it because they are afraid of a media and public backlash? Because if I wanted to get maximum coverage and have the most affect this is the time to do it, when the Olympic Games are taking place(I have to say I am not inciting people to do so)in this day and age you are likely to find yourself in court for suggesting such a thing as some were when riots kicked off last year.
Naturally, the action of the Home Office staff to strike(the day before the opening ceremony, I believe)has been condemned by the Government of course.
But if I was in charge of a union or wanted to make a point, you would do it when it will cause the most disruption, when you have the World's media in town and other countries of the world watching a global event. It allows maximum publicity and shows that some of the show that is being put on hides the fact that this country does have problems and not everyone is happy.
After all the Olympics is more than a sporting occasion for the host country, it is a big promotional event with the main reason for hosting it us to try and get more tourists and businesses to come here.
No doubt at the opening and closing ceremonies we will see and hear from officials and politicians quite a few speeches which the public do not want to hear. I understand past and present Prime Ministers have been invited to the opening ceremony. I'm afraid there cannot be many still alive.
Off the top my head, I can think of Tony Blair, John Major, David Cameron(that's about it))one has said he will attend the event but not the opening ceremony, that's Gordon Brown. There is Margaret Thatcher but I fear she will be too frail. But she may surprise us.
posted by The Great Gildersleeve | 12:18 am
3 Comments:
The one inescapable fact about the country is that it is broke,if everyone is to share the much smaller cake then others have to have a smaller share too.
That is not to say it will always stay like that, when things improve
civil servants wages and pensions will improve too.
I noticed GPs never complained a few years ago when their salary went from something like £80K to a £110K a year, and left them so they could not be bothered to do out of hours, which resulted in the death of a man,given the wrong dose by a doctor who could speak any english-who had just been flown in at a cost of £1000 per day plus plane ticket to the NHS.
Of course it's a complicated situation as you point out, the Olympics may make people feel good and that's important but an ex athlete from 1948 was talking on the World service and it won't change but she said it's all about money and the reasons for the Olympics no longer hold true...
I know we signed up for the Olympics before it went pear shaped but what a pity we could not cancel it. Then again any money saved or ear marked for it would not be spent or diverted to other projects...so nothing would be gained.
I know the leader of the Labour party appeared a few weekends ago and said all the right things at the Durham Miners Gala and was warmly greeted and applauded but he did say that he would not always support or agree with what those at that event wanted...
Well, he has come out against this strike and the action taken and says he doies not believe the public will like the disruption caused and support their action.
A lot of assumptions there. Many over recent days have said they understand whythe action has been called and some are against the Olympics.
How much of what we are expected to feel is orchestrated by the media and the politicians...
You hear the loudest views and who is selected to be heard but get down to street level and often the silent majority says something totally different.
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