Red Len Mcclusky And Illegal Strikes

[Deskdiary]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/12/unite-boss-len-mccluskey-we-could-break-law-to-strike

He states Illegal strikers will be following in the footsteps of Mandela.

Personally I've never quite understood why so many people elevated Mandela to the status of a demi-god, but surely comparing illegal strikers with Mandela is absurd, isn't it?

Supplementary question - should the leader of the UKs largest union be supporting his members in breaking the law? I wonder if there are other laws he is happy to break/see broken simply because he doesn't agree with them.

[dannyk13]

McClusky has always been a loose cannon.

[naomi24]

Trouble maker.

[Old_Geezer]

Everyone must follow their conscience. Following orders was never an acceptable reason for actions. Since this seems to be simple civil disobedience I don't see there's much to make a fuss about. We may all dissent.

[cassa333]

Every time the workforces go on strike, wether legal or illegal, they should be reminded how much he and the non striking union bosses earn and how much they earn compared to the PM and all the other people that have the not inconsiderable task of running the country.

Do you still get paid if you are on strike? Or an illegal strike?

It will backfire eventually when something serious happens. Especially as now I understand the 1% pay cap has been lifted (even if it is partially).

Corbyn doesn't care about the workers, he just wants to make a political point to force out TM.

Hmmm Corbyn is not able to win an election but willing to get into power by force. Where does this happen??

[Quizmonster]

I'm sure Len would be perfectly happy to obey, if the government applied the same rules to votes in their spheres of influence…parliamentary elections, bills in Parliament etc..as they apply to votes in union matters.
A Tory would still be elected as an MP in Henley, say, if only 10 members of the electorate turned out and most voted Tory. In addition, all a government bill needs in the House is a majority of one! Union votes require vastly more participation than that in order to be so-called “legal”.
Make things eeksy-peeksy, I say, and so I daresay does Len!

[Islay]

No Cassa you don't get paid when on strike it also affects your pension. In my experience the younger workforce go on strike as they see it as a day off, the older ones near to retirement don't and the middle aged ones struggle for what is best. I won't go out on an illegal strike as I don't see the point, they have lifted the cap which is what we asked them to do.

[fiction-factory]

I read cassa's point as being that whilst the strikers struggle without pay the union bosses still receive full pay

[Deskdiary]

In his defence (I never thought I'd ever type that) he 'only' earns about £150,000 (plus, no doubt various benefits and pension payments) which for the leader of such a vast union isn't what I would consider a vast amount.

[dannyk13]

If they didn't FF there would be far less strikes.

[zebo]

Maybe if Union leaders' pay was the average of their membership they may not be so keen to strike. How many of his members earn £150,000?

[ToraToraTora]

The ironic thing is that whilst the workers may strike and lose pay the union leaders are always on their full pay. Easy to induce a sacrifice in others when you don't suffer yourself. Look at Scargill in the miners strike, full pay the whole time.

[cassa333]

Eeskdiary, how much does the PM get for running the country. Or even the leader of the opposition?

[Quizmonster]

"How much does the PM get for running the country?"
However much the present Tory incumbent gets, it's clearly vastly too much, given her utter incompetence!

[naomi24]

But Jeremy would be worth his salt. ;o)

[1rovert]

Mandela the terrorist ?
Islay/
I worked at Fords in Southampton, and we got a payment from the union.

[sapelesam]

Any law he associates with "Tory Scum" is fair game. He and Corbyn have obviously spotted the money tree growing behind 10 Downing Street.

[Quizmonster]

There clearly is a money-tree behind No 10. When Mrs Weak'n'Wobbly needed a billion or two for a bung to the DUP, there it was!
At least it is now clear that it has to be approved by parliament, but...the way she's unjustifiably 'packing' committees...that should be no trouble, eh?