Thatcher's Labour

[Paigntonian]

Extraordinary to see Kier (I used to be DPP) Starmer fire one of his shadow front bench team for briefly attending a picket line. How times have changed. The Blessed Margaret is alive and well within the soul of the Labour leadership.

[youngmafbog]

//Ymb,
You make no sense, but that is nothing new.//

And what bit didnt you understand?

[New Judge]

//NJ, The RMT ballot of underground drivers voted over 90% for a strike. The picket line is not to deter the handful of drivers who did not want to strike, it is a public show of their grievance.//

The public - especially those who need to use trains - is well aware of their grievance. Their leaders are interviewed on prime time TV and radio. Standing with placards around a brazier outside a works entrance does nothing to enhance that. Here's the Local Governments Association's take on it:

https://www.local.gov.uk/our-support/workforce-and-hr-support/employment-relations/employment-law-topics-and-e-guides-7

"Picketing occurs when a group of people gathers outside a workplace to try and persuade others, such as non-strikers, substitute workers or suppliers, to take some form of industrial action."

And an employment lawyer's take:

"The purpose of the picket is to peacefully encourage non-striking employees and members of the public to oppose a lock-out or to support strikers involved in a protected strike."

Picketing is an antiquated practice which serves no useful legitimate purpose today. Far from being a protected activity, it should be outlawed.

[Gromit]

TAAS and ASLEF are both affiliated to Labour. But the Labour leader thinks standing with them is a sackable offense.

[New Judge]

Link to the second quote:

https://www.worklaw.co.za/SearchDirectory/Codes_Of_Good_Practice/picketing.asp

[youngmafbog]

//Yes but that's despite Labour. //

I think I have to disagree, somewhat.

You dont need to be in power to instigate change and labour, particular in the early days, did bring about change - good change.

We are worlds away from what it was like 100 years ago. It wasnt all down to the Tories, indeed in those days I am not sure I would have voted Tory.

[youngmafbog]

//The picket line is not to deter the handful of drivers who did not want to strike,//

Yeah, pull the other one. Ever had to cross a picket line?

[ToraToraTora]

YMB, yes Labour did a bit of good early on and of course I do actually count Clement Atlee as one of the great PMs but from the 60s onward I think labour just got assimilated by the unions and were bad for everybody.

[FatticusInch]

Gromit
//TAAS and ASLEF are both affiliated to Labour. But the Labour leader thinks standing with them is a sackable offense.//

Tbf to Starmer he’s clarified that it wasn’t the picket line attendance alone, Tarry booked himself in for unsanctioned media appointments and was completely off the party message and line.

[FatticusInch]

https://news.sky.com/story/labour-leader-sir-keir-starmer-says-he-sacked-minister-for-making-up-policy-on-the-hoof-at-picket-line-12660613