SHOULD WE ALL SUPPORT COMRADE RHODES ?

[Eastside Urchin]

Not Rhodes but I bet there were a few people beaten senseless today for the heinous crimes of wanting to work to support their families or because they simply didn't agree with the strike.

What also gets me is that the majority of those striking that I have personally spoken to were just happy to have a day off,the majority really couldn't give two hoots about the real issue.

[missunderstood]

Phew folks, I had to fight my way into work this morning through the picket line of three or four sheepish looking blokes in yellow jackets who attempted to shove a leaflet in my hand

In my working life anyone colleague that crossed a picket line was forever known as a scab, and thought of as the lowest form of life imaginable. Collectively we made their work life as miserable as possible, as did many of our managers who were more often or not sympathetic to our cause. Not many of them lasted more than a year, and they ended up leaving well paid jobs, with great working conditions because of their own greed and selfishness.

 

 

And Alan,that is exactly why I despise the majority of unions,with a few exceptions,they are bullies who work on intimidation.Everyone has a right to work and to think how they want.If they don't agree with the unions actions or simply want to work to support their families they are victimised,bullied sometimes violently for just wanting to work.As far as many unions and their members are concerned their way is the only way and while not every member of a union will be a socialist the two go hand in hand and it's no surprise that the minute the Tories get into power,the unions suddenly spring into action.It's no surprise to me after the last few days when the Tories have been saying they want to continue talks,the union leaders (the majority of whom have their own political agendas )have been saying the Tories wouldn't come to the table.When it became obvious today that the disturbances have been minimal,the protests smaller than anticipated,some of the union leaders are now saying that talks have been ongoing.I thought striking was the last option but it appears that since this government came to power striking is just another threat from those with political agendas to unsettle the government and make sure the masses vote labour next time.Make no mistake,this government is far from perfect and like any other government will make many decisions that many people will not like but if you think they are any worse than the last administration you are in for a shock.This government was left with a very difficult economy due to a number of reasons,one being a world wide recession and since day one they have had the unions all over them like a bad rash,not helping the situation at all.

Absolute rubbish, never in all my working life did I use or see bullying tactics or intimidation by union members. I did though witness plenty from managers and directors who had the instincts of eighteenth century slave traders. No union member or leader takes the decision to strike lightly, and it is only ever taken as a last resort after much sole searching. To suggest that two million people took industrial action because their leaders despise the Tories, and have a political agenda almost beggars belief, they went on strike to protect their pension and financial security in old age, and to maintain terms and condition of employment that were fought for over many decades by previous generations of trade unionists.

[missunderstood]

Not Rhodes but I bet there were a few people beaten senseless today for the heinous crimes of wanting to work to support their families or because they simply didn't agree with the strike.

What also gets me is that the majority of those striking that I have personally spoken to were just happy to have a day off,the majority really couldn't give two hoots about the real issue.

So the striking people that you met today couldn't give two hoots about 700,000 job losses, paying thousands of pounds extra for a reduced pension, and working up to seven or eight years longer to receive it. You really do meet some very strange people Rob, and I'm sorry to say that was the most ridiculous post I have ever read.

[Eastside Urchin]

Whatever Alan,you say I talk garbage but it appears you are the one confused.You say on one post that you never undertook bullying or intimidation but previously you say that those who don't agree are scabs and more or less hounded out their jobs within a year.If that's not bullying I don't know what is.

[missunderstood]

Whatever Alan,you say I talk garbage but it appears you are the one confused.You say on one post that you never undertook bullying or intimidation but previously you say that those who don't agree are scabs and more or less hounded out their jobs within a year.If that's not bullying I don't know what is.

Not at all, if you join a club or union you should abide by the rules, someone that breaks the rules should quite rightly expect to lose the benefits of being a member, and the contempt of fellow members.

 

Returning to the plight of public service workers, yesterday I had the misfortune to listen to some obscure junior minister whinging about greedy teachers and nurses etc having pension pots of £200,000 plus, and how the country can no longer afford them. He failed to mention that very few workers have sums even approaching that figure, and even a two hundred grand annuity would barely raise their living standard to little over the poverty line. It would certainly not finance the champagne lifestyle that MPs can expect in their dotage.

[Eastside Urchin]

People can join a union and still disagree with certain policies that the union leaders make.Thats their right in a democratic society.

You can't have it both ways,you are constantly whingeing about those who are on the breadline but when they choose to work because they simply can't afford to support their families otheerwise they are vilified by the glorious unions and their members.

[Rhodes]

And Alan, that is exactly why I despise the majority of unions, with a few exceptions, they are bullies who work on intimidation. Everyone has a right to work and to think how they want. If they don't agree with the unions actions or simply want to work to support their families they are victimised, bullied sometimes violently for just wanting to work

Eastside Urchin – I couldn’t agree more, these are the sort of people Loosely clearly hero worships

 

[missunderstood]

People can join a union and still disagree with certain policies that the union leaders make.Thats their right in a democratic society.

You can't have it both ways,you are constantly whingeing about those who are on the breadline but when they choose to work because they simply can't afford to support their families otheerwise they are vilified by the glorious unions and their members.

Wrong, the only way a trade union can function efficiently is by ALL members showing solidarity. The selfish strike breakers may have gained a short time financial advantage, but that advantage will be wiped out enormously by weakening the unions position.

Anyone that subscribes to the old Tory mantra of divide and rule, are no different to turkeys voting for Christmas.

[Eastside Urchin]

Complete garbage.How can you vilify someone who may not be able to feed their kids if they have a days strike.That's the sort of scumbag who makes me sick to be British.

Bullies of the highest order,no wonder omega youth of this country are so wayward,they are learning from Neanderthals

[Loose]

Oops just PMSL, wayward youth being blamed on unions lol.

[Eastside Urchin]

Lol,not really but I wouldn't mind betting there was a few kids around the country who went to the picket line with their dads,witnessed blatant bullying and probably think it's ok

[Loose]

Doubt it myself tbh, pickets these days have a strict limit of 6 people, mass unionists protesting take part in the marches. All in all I think there may be a lot of misunderstanding about the strike action yesterday since not all unions balloted their members and those union members who were not part of the day of action had clear instructions from their unions that they were to cross picket lines and that was understood by those striking, that as you pointed out, losing a days pay was bad enough, that further days of action would be shared if necessary across the unions. Even so, many union members not participating took leave days to show solidarity with their striking colleagues. The people that are worthy of being despised are those who expect to benefit from industrial action even though they don't support the fight.

[missunderstood]

Complete garbage.How can you vilify someone who may not be able to feed their kids if they have a days strike.That's the sort of scumbag who makes me sick to be British.

Bullies of the highest order,no wonder omega youth of this country are so wayward,they are learning from Neanderthals

When I was a union rep we always had a special hardship fund, and anyone that suffered financial hardship due to strike action was given a small sum of money discreetly to save them any embarrassment.

 

Most responsible employers that I worked for embraced the ideal of trade union representation because collective bargaining was easier than individual negotiations, and they realised that a collectively united workforce was more efficient than a fragmented one. Every wage negotiation that I was ever involved with was conducted in a spirit of relative harmony once the obligatory macho breast beating stage had been overcome, and we always made sure our members were aware that the well being of the company was paramount, because our members livelihoods depended on it.

[Big J R]

Not going to get too embroiled in this conversation, but sure to upset a few of you......................

 

I'm so very proud of my eldest daughter, a senior school caterer, and against her (contracted-out) employers wishes, joined UNISON, of which I just happen to be a proud life-member.

 

Much to the dismay of her so called employer, and after having seen how much more she would have to pay into her pension pot for less return, she DID strike.

 

Today, on her return to work, the teachers all praised her for making a stand for public sector workers.

[BUFC]

 

 

Most employers that I worked for embraced the ideal of trade union representation

 

You worked for some right knobs obviousy.................

 

The original reason for unions and the belief of lefties was probably well intended until it was taken over by closet tories.

Communism used to be the in thing once upon a time as well

 

I notice you say you were a union rep.......posh words for 'i really want to be a tory and earn as much money as i can'

 

Best thing that happened in the last 30 yrs was Maggie smashing the unions...........hopefully Cameroon will find his bo11ox and do the same, though i will lay odds he wont

 

I'd sooner be a capitalist than a skulking Red who hasnt got the balls to admit he wants to earn as much as he can....but you would probably be happy as a pig in sh1t if the likes of Scargill and Kinnock were in power...after all they only had the interests of the people at heart didnt they!?

[missunderstood]

 

 

Most employers that I worked for embraced the ideal of trade union representation

 

You worked for some right knobs obviousy.................

 

The original reason for unions and the belief of lefties was probably well intended until it was taken over by closet tories.

Communism used to be the in thing once upon a time as well

 

I notice you say you were a union rep.......posh words for 'i really want to be a tory and earn as much money as i can'

 

Best thing that happened in the last 30 yrs was Maggie smashing the unions...........hopefully Cameroon will find his bo11ox and do the same, though i will lay odds he wont

 

I'd sooner be a capitalist than a skulking Red who hasnt got the balls to admit he wants to earn as much as he can....but you would probably be happy as a pig in sh1t if the likes of Scargill and Kinnock were in power...after all they only had the interests of the people at heart didnt they!?

 

 

Most employers that I worked for embraced the ideal of trade union representation

 

You worked for some right knobs obviousy.................

 

The original reason for unions and the belief of lefties was probably well intended until it was taken over by closet tories.

Communism used to be the in thing once upon a time as well

 

I notice you say you were a union rep.......posh words for 'i really want to be a tory and earn as much money as i can'

 

Best thing that happened in the last 30 yrs was Maggie smashing the unions...........hopefully Cameroon will find his bo11ox and do the same, though i will lay odds he wont

 

I'd sooner be a capitalist than a skulking Red who hasnt got the balls to admit he wants to earn as much as he can....but you would probably be happy as a pig in sh1t if the likes of Scargill and Kinnock were in power...after all they only had the interests of the people at heart didnt they!?

What a load of rubbish, ignorance and bigotry at its very best.

Edited December 2, 2011 by missunderstood

[Loose]

I don't think it's the very best I've seen.

[Eastside Urchin]

BUFC enough said mate.

[missunderstood]

BUFC enough said mate.

Seems like the politics of envy are creeping into this debate, as the majority of people who don't support the strikers, apart from Eton educated millionaire cabinet ministers, the greedy bankers that created this mess and are still enjoying huge bonuses, and the worse of the lot, the ill educated who never had the guts to stand up to bad companies and spent a lifetime working for low pay and no decent pension, and who now think that because they have little to look forward to, nor should anyone else. Its all rather pathetic and is a great example of why, public service workers including nurses, doctors, and teachers etc who are responsible for creating the next generation of a hopefully decent society deserve our support.

[Big J R]

No wonder Jeremy Clarkson's has p1ssed off to China for a while after his latest BBC TV appearance.

 

Hope he remembers they still have the death sentence there !

Edited December 2, 2011 by Big J R