Vince Cable’s comments on the news this morning regarding strikes would be laughable if they were not so serious. If Vince and the ConDems truly think trade unions instigating strike action would ‘derail the economy’ they are living in cuckoo land. It’s because these ridiculous ConDem policies are not working that the economy is continuing to flatline! This weekend has been a disaster for the current government with leading economists urging George Osborne to ditch ‘plan A’ and come up with a ‘plan B’ – to be honest even Plan Z would be better than what they’re doing at the minute. Cable, due to give a big speech today, is apparently going to warn the unions that if they consider taking any action the government will consider making the law tougher to try and stop it. Boris Johnson has led calls for strikes to only be allowed if 50% of the membership take part in a ballot, but as many commentators have said, should the same rule apply for this standing for MP, councillor or maybe Mayor of London?
Why shouldn’t public sector workers have the right to strike anyway? I’ve said many times before, that strike action should be the last resort and this government is hammering the public sector left, right and centre. No pay rises for years (yet private sector pay has risen 3% in the last 12 months), thousands and thousands of jobs have gone across local government, NHS, fire and police and unemployment is rocketing. That doesn’t even take into account many of the failed policies this government has introduced in the last 13 months which have taken money from people’s pockets, such as the increase in VAT and the removal of various tax credits.
Cable, Osborne, Cameron and the ConDems are horrendously out of touch with society. It’s because they’re not listening that trade unions feel the need to strike. It should be the last thing they can do if all talks fail. Cable’s comments today will be like a red rag to a bull and, I have no doubt at all, will strengthen the belief of certain union leaders that co-ordinated strikes need to happen sooner rather than later.
June 6, 2011 at 5:12 pm |
Agree with Mick?
Against the cuts?
In this together?
Come along to the Coalition of Resistance Organiser’s Meeting Tuesday 7th, 7:30 pm Highfield House Pub, Scunthorpe.
2 new volunteers turned up last week having read about it on local blogs, lets see if we can get 2 more this week.
June 30, 2011 at 7:13 am |
[...] In spite of proper Labour support, strike action is necessary. Unions are the only bargaining chip available to the workforce, and the government have been very clear they are not listening. [...]