Ministers have defended plans to tighten the rules on strike ballots after unions said they would make legal strikes "almost impossible".
Under current rules all that is needed for a strike is a simple majority of those that take part in a ballot.
But the Trade Union Bill would impose a minimum 50% turnout - and public sector strikes would need the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote.
Why not the same criteria to elect a government ?
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
Bruv;1484709 wrote: Ministers have defended plans to tighten the rules on strike ballots after unions said they would make legal strikes "almost impossible".
Under current rules all that is needed for a strike is a simple majority of those that take part in a ballot.
But the Trade Union Bill would impose a minimum 50% turnout - and public sector strikes would need the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote.
Why not the same criteria to elect a government ?
I agree, Bruv. A clear case of "do as I say, not as I do". Hallmark of authoritarian states world-wide. Sucessive governments in the UK have been SLOWLY eroding free-speech, democracy and civil liberties for years now. They do it slowly so we don't notice, which we would if the changes were implemented at a faster rate.
They don't fool me, though!! They view democracy as an inconvenience to be overcome, or failing that, 'short-circuited'. Whether we are aware of it or not, I feel this country sliding ever closer to the brink of dictatorship. How long until some 'crisis' prompts a UK government to cancel a general election indefinitely in the interests of 'national security'?
Mountebanks, the lot of them!!
Is the time fast approaching?....
Under current rules all that is needed for a strike is a simple majority of those that take part in a ballot.
But the Trade Union Bill would impose a minimum 50% turnout - and public sector strikes would need the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote.
Why not the same criteria to elect a government ?
I agree, Bruv. A clear case of "do as I say, not as I do". Hallmark of authoritarian states world-wide. Sucessive governments in the UK have been SLOWLY eroding free-speech, democracy and civil liberties for years now. They do it slowly so we don't notice, which we would if the changes were implemented at a faster rate.
They don't fool me, though!! They view democracy as an inconvenience to be overcome, or failing that, 'short-circuited'. Whether we are aware of it or not, I feel this country sliding ever closer to the brink of dictatorship. How long until some 'crisis' prompts a UK government to cancel a general election indefinitely in the interests of 'national security'?
Mountebanks, the lot of them!!
Is the time fast approaching?....
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
Why do people remember the Winter of discontent but not paid dinner breaks, sick pay, annual holidays, health and safety, lower hours, overtime pay,working condition improvements, etc.etc.etc ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
'Tell that to the marines', Bruv! What about the millions of folk on National minimum wage, quite a few of which rely on FOOD BANKS to put food on the table? Many people are just a couple of pay-days from being on the street. I think many ordinary people are being 'taken for a ride' by our 'silver spoon' Tories and 'champagne socialist' Labourites; there's not much between these two jaded, gravy-train riding parties at the end of the day. The tories steal at least £2 per hour per worker, and they STILL can't fix the financial problems we face!!! I'm absolutely certain Labour will be no better--in fact they usually leave the country BANKRUPT by the time their turn in power is done.
Then here's workfare, a 'busted flush' of an idea from the US that the tories are hell-bent on adopting. There'll be more cuts to come, I shouldn't wonder. When WILL people make a stand? Probably when its to late, unlike the French, who set the standard when it comes to public dis-obedience, and looking after their liberty!
As for overtime pay, don't make me laugh! It's nearly at the same rate as normal time these days;just check Universal Jobmatch, unless you're going for a management
position. Yet another mechanism used by companies to screw extra hours out of hard-pressed workers who can't afford to say no, because of hardship, and the risk of losing their job!
Sick pay? Staff at the local jobcentre dare't take sick-time; if they do, they are given the sack! (Yet another tool this govt. is using to decide who get's 'the chop' in his latest round of public sector cuts)
Lower hours? Just look at the plethora of ZERO hours contracts offered on various employment sites. They're OK for someone who's got a partner in a well-paid position, but sod-all use to anyone else!!
Dinner breaks? You're lucky to get half an hour these days (the minimum for an 8 hour shift), and people often work through this to keep up with the workload, snatching a few minutes when things go a bit quieter. I've 'been there' many times myself!
As for working condition improvements/health and safety, they vary from sector to sector. Some jobs are, and always will be, dirty and/or dangerous. My Cousin works in the construction industry, and there's barely a week goes by without him receiving a painful injury, some of which, under different circumstances, could be life-threatening. He's had many 'close calls' in his 15 years in the industry.
We won't say too much then about the hundreds of people who have committed suicide because their benefits have been stopped! It would be a disgrace to mouth that old platitude"get a job, then", wouldn't it, especially in the light of the influx of cheap work-force from both inside and outside the EU, with it's resultant pressure on available jobs, and the pay that these jobs yield. Employers aren't stupid, they know people are desperate to find work, and employers can afford to offer minimum, or near-minimum wage work wholesale;-take it or leave it is their attitude, as they hold the 'whip hand'....
Then here's workfare, a 'busted flush' of an idea from the US that the tories are hell-bent on adopting. There'll be more cuts to come, I shouldn't wonder. When WILL people make a stand? Probably when its to late, unlike the French, who set the standard when it comes to public dis-obedience, and looking after their liberty!
As for overtime pay, don't make me laugh! It's nearly at the same rate as normal time these days;just check Universal Jobmatch, unless you're going for a management
position. Yet another mechanism used by companies to screw extra hours out of hard-pressed workers who can't afford to say no, because of hardship, and the risk of losing their job!
Sick pay? Staff at the local jobcentre dare't take sick-time; if they do, they are given the sack! (Yet another tool this govt. is using to decide who get's 'the chop' in his latest round of public sector cuts)
Lower hours? Just look at the plethora of ZERO hours contracts offered on various employment sites. They're OK for someone who's got a partner in a well-paid position, but sod-all use to anyone else!!
Dinner breaks? You're lucky to get half an hour these days (the minimum for an 8 hour shift), and people often work through this to keep up with the workload, snatching a few minutes when things go a bit quieter. I've 'been there' many times myself!
As for working condition improvements/health and safety, they vary from sector to sector. Some jobs are, and always will be, dirty and/or dangerous. My Cousin works in the construction industry, and there's barely a week goes by without him receiving a painful injury, some of which, under different circumstances, could be life-threatening. He's had many 'close calls' in his 15 years in the industry.
We won't say too much then about the hundreds of people who have committed suicide because their benefits have been stopped! It would be a disgrace to mouth that old platitude"get a job, then", wouldn't it, especially in the light of the influx of cheap work-force from both inside and outside the EU, with it's resultant pressure on available jobs, and the pay that these jobs yield. Employers aren't stupid, they know people are desperate to find work, and employers can afford to offer minimum, or near-minimum wage work wholesale;-take it or leave it is their attitude, as they hold the 'whip hand'....
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
Hold up.........don't over egg it, exaggeration can work against you.
We are far far better off in many ways today due to Unions doing what they do.
I have worked in a construction related industry, Glass glazing and windows for much of my working life and the health and safety regulations are tighter now than they have ever been, and that in a historically high mortality industry.
Those at the top are working to screw us down even tighter, but.......that is their job........our job is to resist and claw back whatever they steal, and that is why we need the Unions strength.
We are far far better off in many ways today due to Unions doing what they do.
I have worked in a construction related industry, Glass glazing and windows for much of my working life and the health and safety regulations are tighter now than they have ever been, and that in a historically high mortality industry.
Those at the top are working to screw us down even tighter, but.......that is their job........our job is to resist and claw back whatever they steal, and that is why we need the Unions strength.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
I write as I find, Bruv. If you look carefully at the topics you mentioned, and to which I replied, you will find many such examples! I wouldn't have 'set the record straight' if I had agreed with you. If you take the general cost of living and property rental
/mortgage payment costs then compare that with nat. minimum wage, we're little better off (in real terms) to Victorian times,IMO.
I don't need to exaggerate, it's there for all to see, if you look. I worked for about 6 years in the timber industry (until the company went bust), which is also a fairly dangerous industry, and no matter how much 'elf and safety' rules were tweaked and tightened, it was still dangerous at times. Bad working practice and accidents are inherent dangers in this sector, as in construction.
I agree with you about the need for Unions, and for the reasons you stated, but this government is going to 'emasculate' the unions, by the looks of things! Your only recourse will then be an ILLEGAL strike. Yet another example of this elitist government 'moving the goal-posts' to suit itself, and employers in general (do as I say, not as I do).
A friend of mine who visits friends in Germany frequently, tells me that things are very different in Germany; if there's a problem looming, the bosses AND the union reps. have a consultation period to work out an amicable settlement prior to any disruption, rather than going 'head to head', as in the UK. I think the difference is that in Germany, employers are more forthcoming with better offers than over here. There seems to be more 'give and take' in Germany, not to mention more money (generated by smart thinking, hard work, and fair play to all).
This country is a failing state, as it stands, and it will only get worse if we keep electing the same old self-serving, corrupt, inefficient, gravy-train, turn-coat political monstrosities that we have been doing to date. Thereby hangs another problem.
If you remember how many UKIP votes were received in the last general election (approx 30% of the electorate), then compare it to how many seats in Parliament were won ( only a couple), you'll clearly see how many dis-enfranchised people there are (millions).
They know how to silence opponents, don't they?
/mortgage payment costs then compare that with nat. minimum wage, we're little better off (in real terms) to Victorian times,IMO.
I don't need to exaggerate, it's there for all to see, if you look. I worked for about 6 years in the timber industry (until the company went bust), which is also a fairly dangerous industry, and no matter how much 'elf and safety' rules were tweaked and tightened, it was still dangerous at times. Bad working practice and accidents are inherent dangers in this sector, as in construction.
I agree with you about the need for Unions, and for the reasons you stated, but this government is going to 'emasculate' the unions, by the looks of things! Your only recourse will then be an ILLEGAL strike. Yet another example of this elitist government 'moving the goal-posts' to suit itself, and employers in general (do as I say, not as I do).
A friend of mine who visits friends in Germany frequently, tells me that things are very different in Germany; if there's a problem looming, the bosses AND the union reps. have a consultation period to work out an amicable settlement prior to any disruption, rather than going 'head to head', as in the UK. I think the difference is that in Germany, employers are more forthcoming with better offers than over here. There seems to be more 'give and take' in Germany, not to mention more money (generated by smart thinking, hard work, and fair play to all).
This country is a failing state, as it stands, and it will only get worse if we keep electing the same old self-serving, corrupt, inefficient, gravy-train, turn-coat political monstrosities that we have been doing to date. Thereby hangs another problem.
If you remember how many UKIP votes were received in the last general election (approx 30% of the electorate), then compare it to how many seats in Parliament were won ( only a couple), you'll clearly see how many dis-enfranchised people there are (millions).
They know how to silence opponents, don't they?
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
"....................we're little better off (in real terms) to Victorian times,IMO."
We are vastly 'better off' in the relatively short time I have been working, I don't know what measurement you are using.
Along side the pluses there are many minuses I would agree.
Top of my list is the abomination of The Right to Buy, that has moved housing stock from public hands into private hands and eventually into private landlord's hands that has had dramatic affect on housing across the whole country. Moving social security subsidies into private landlords hands at extortionate rates. This has pushed up the benefit payments for housing, put up prices while lowering the available stock for social housing, with ripples throughout the economy.
I have been present when two workmates have lost digits, one a thumb the other an index finger, both due to bad practice, both agreed it was avoidable......
Neither boss were negligent, both bosses were aghast at the reasons the accidents happened, individual responsibility from taking short cuts and simple bad practice.
During a short spell as a security guard I spent time reading through 'Risk assessments' in the site office, you couldn't make them up.
We are vastly 'better off' in the relatively short time I have been working, I don't know what measurement you are using.
Along side the pluses there are many minuses I would agree.
Top of my list is the abomination of The Right to Buy, that has moved housing stock from public hands into private hands and eventually into private landlord's hands that has had dramatic affect on housing across the whole country. Moving social security subsidies into private landlords hands at extortionate rates. This has pushed up the benefit payments for housing, put up prices while lowering the available stock for social housing, with ripples throughout the economy.
I have been present when two workmates have lost digits, one a thumb the other an index finger, both due to bad practice, both agreed it was avoidable......
Neither boss were negligent, both bosses were aghast at the reasons the accidents happened, individual responsibility from taking short cuts and simple bad practice.
During a short spell as a security guard I spent time reading through 'Risk assessments' in the site office, you couldn't make them up.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Tightening the screws on the Unions ?
Bruv;1484764 wrote: "....................we're little better off (in real terms) to Victorian times,IMO."
We are vastly 'better off' in the relatively short time I have been working, I don't know what measurement you are using.
Along side the pluses there are many minuses I would agree.
Top of my list is the abomination of The Right to Buy, that has moved housing stock from public hands into private hands and eventually into private landlord's hands that has had dramatic affect on housing across the whole country. Moving social security subsidies into private landlords hands at extortionate rates. This has pushed up the benefit payments for housing, put up prices while lowering the available stock for social housing, with ripples throughout the economy.
I have been present when two workmates have lost digits, one a thumb the other an index finger, both due to bad practice, both agreed it was avoidable......
Neither boss were negligent, both bosses were aghast at the reasons the accidents happened, individual responsibility from taking short cuts and simple bad practice.
During a short spell as a security guard I spent time reading through 'Risk assessments' in the site office, you couldn't make them up.
Plenty of people struggled to put food on the table back then, and it's a serious problem in today's society that we are again in this position.
I agree with you on the 'right to buy' scheme;-how short-sighted to sell so much council housing stock into private ownership without building sufficient new housing to cover any shortfall in housing stock, and they wonder why we've got an ongoing 'housing bubble'? Crass stupidity, IMO. Sure, I understand that Thatcher wanted an 'aspirational society', in terms of property ownership, but what safeguards
did they put in place? None!
As for bosses, they vary too. Some are extremely safety conscious, others are not, that applies to some employees I have known, too! The lesson that all parties need to learn is that safety is EVERYONE'S responsibility.
Risk assessments have gone bonkers! At this rate, we'll all be filing a risk assessment before going shopping....:-5
We are vastly 'better off' in the relatively short time I have been working, I don't know what measurement you are using.
Along side the pluses there are many minuses I would agree.
Top of my list is the abomination of The Right to Buy, that has moved housing stock from public hands into private hands and eventually into private landlord's hands that has had dramatic affect on housing across the whole country. Moving social security subsidies into private landlords hands at extortionate rates. This has pushed up the benefit payments for housing, put up prices while lowering the available stock for social housing, with ripples throughout the economy.
I have been present when two workmates have lost digits, one a thumb the other an index finger, both due to bad practice, both agreed it was avoidable......
Neither boss were negligent, both bosses were aghast at the reasons the accidents happened, individual responsibility from taking short cuts and simple bad practice.
During a short spell as a security guard I spent time reading through 'Risk assessments' in the site office, you couldn't make them up.
Plenty of people struggled to put food on the table back then, and it's a serious problem in today's society that we are again in this position.
I agree with you on the 'right to buy' scheme;-how short-sighted to sell so much council housing stock into private ownership without building sufficient new housing to cover any shortfall in housing stock, and they wonder why we've got an ongoing 'housing bubble'? Crass stupidity, IMO. Sure, I understand that Thatcher wanted an 'aspirational society', in terms of property ownership, but what safeguards
did they put in place? None!
As for bosses, they vary too. Some are extremely safety conscious, others are not, that applies to some employees I have known, too! The lesson that all parties need to learn is that safety is EVERYONE'S responsibility.
Risk assessments have gone bonkers! At this rate, we'll all be filing a risk assessment before going shopping....:-5
" To finish first, first you have to finish!" Rick Mears. 4x Winner Indy 500. 3x Indycar National Champion.