Eyes of the world upon us........

[MoonRocker]

You'd think we'd all be trying to put on a show, but no, let's go on strike shall we! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, the greatest job destroyer of them all, striking for jobs, the unions!

[Davethedog]

Ludwig how do you work that out? They didn't vote against it if they did that would show they didn't want to strike.

Also using the logic of the vote there would not be a mayor in London and we would never get a government.

Those that could be bothered voted and they got what they wanted, I can only imagine what some of you would say if voting in such situations was made compulsory. So whats it to be?

[Sqad]

Dave you are quite correct BUT Ludwig has my problem in that only 1 in 5 of the workforce has indicated that they want to take strike action and that is legal in Law.

We are not blaming the Unions in complying with the law.

[Ellipsis]

> Also using the logic of the vote there would not be a mayor in London and we would never get a government

Why should the same logic apply to both circumstances? They're different.

* A vote for mayor is a vote on an event that's already scheduled.
* A vote for strike action is a vote to schedule an event.

It's certainly debatable whether the same logic could be applied. But it's a red herring. The real issue is that this union has called for a mass walkout the day before the Olympics, based on a 59% yes vote and a 20% turnout.

[Davethedog]

Ellipse There was a referendum whether there should be a mayor in London only 40% of Londoners voted and I think 60% voted for a Mayor.

Its exactly the same and its called Democracy as for the timing I would suggest that the Union are showing exactly the same distain for the Government as the Government are showing for the prople of London

[echokilo]

There is no place for Unions in modern Britain ... employment laws, ACAS and tribunal facilities yes, but Unions, no ..... business prevention units.

[Ellipsis]

Dave, are you saying that because 60% voted on a 40% turnout for a mayor, this means that 59% voting on a 20% turnout for a strike is OK?

If so, is there a lower limit for a turnout in your opinion? Or, again in your opinion, has that mayoral election set an "anything goes" precedent for the minimum size of turnout required to take action of maximum damage to the credibility of the country as a whole?

[naomi24]

I listened to their union representative who said something like ‘We are striking for a day’. All I can say is pick another day, and one that does not bring difficulties and embarrassment to this country at a time when the eyes of the world are upon it. Whatever their grievance, washing their dirty linen in public like this is deliberately spiteful and is, in my opinion, absolutely shameful.

[Duncer]

"There is no place for Unions in modern Britain ... employment laws, ACAS and tribunal facilities yes, but Unions, no ..... business prevention units."

I disagree entirely echokilo - who do you turn to if you are unfairly dismissed or wrongly disciplined? Should you go through that already stressful situation yourself, or leave it to people with experience in these matters? I have a friend supsended on spurious and malicious evidence. Who should he turn to?

[Davethedog]

Ellipse no I'm not i'm saying that there aren't any limits so the vote is legitimate, totaly and that you argument is without substance, because your being selective about whats "right" and whats "wrong"

Anyway union have folded.

End of

[237SJ]

<<who do you turn to>> and more importantly, how do you pay for it?

[ludwig]

// Ludwig how do you work that out? They didn't vote against it if they did that would show they didn't want to strike. //

Dave how do you work that out? They didn't vote for it if they did that would show they wanted to strike.

[ludwig]

// Whatever their grievance, washing their dirty linen in public like this is deliberately spiteful and is, in my opinion, absolutely shameful. //

True Naomi, and completely counter-productive to whatever it is they're trying to achieve - unless of course they're trying to achieve getting a day off work and making themselves and the country look bad, in which case it's the best course of action.

[Ellipsis]

Fully agree ludwig, but you're now flogging the proverbial dead horse as (Dave pointed out) the strike has been called off. "End of." Which is fortunate, as I was having trouble comprehending (let alone responding to) the first paragraph in the post that pointed this out. ...

[Brenden]

I am not a union lover, but in these days of high unemployment employees are quite ruthless with their workforce, I would like to see negotiations take place but some companies are immovable. The only winners are the union bosses - but - who do the workers take their grievances too?.

[Duncer]

"Dave how do you work that out? They didn't vote for it if they did that would show they wanted to strike."

Neither did they vote against it, so your point is invalid. Not voting cannot be said to go one way or the other, meaning that we can only count the almost 60% in favour although, as already stated, it is no longer relevant.

[ludwig]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-18982453

As pointed out above, it's been called off.

[Duncer]

That'll be why I said it is no longer relevant then?

[ludwig]

^ oooooOOOOOooooohh.

[Brenden]

Sorry major typo mistake, my post 12.11 whould have read "employes are quite ruthless"

[Gromit]

The likes of MoonRocker tell us we should be strengthening our Borders and we should be more vigilant about who we let in. Then the Government cut 1,000 staff who do that job. We should be adding to Border contro staff not cutting it.

Anyway, the Government have done another of its famous U-Turns and have advertised for 800 new jobs, so the strike is called off.