Off Topic Politics Thread

[Puck]

Deliberately not recognised as separate by Jimmy dimly-not-very-Cleverly and the right wing media. Fortunately they've been seen through by the public.

There's never a good time to go on strike. Working to rule or contract as the GPs were proposing can be equally disruptive.

What other action can be taken when the management break agreements on T&Cs and dispute procedures and all other avenues of negotiation are done?

After their latest pay rise train drivers are due to be paid £70k on average so people have very little sympathy for them. Most people I know think train drivers in particular take the absolute piss, and once they hear about 'Spanish practices' any sympathy for railway workers evaporates completely.

 

[Gregm1988]

I think we all know Labour are overplaying their broken economy hand. This from today’s Times…

Ben Zaranko, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the think tank, told Today on BBC Radio 4: “The first thing to stress is that the economy is growing at a relatively healthy rate. Inflation is now back close to its 2 per cent target, unemployment is low. So when the government says it’s got the worst economic inheritance ever, we should treat that with a healthy dose of scepticism. When they say they have got a terrible public finance inheritance, I think I have much more sympathy.”

This quote agrees with the “overplaying” part but it doesn’t really say they are wrong in that the national situation is not healthy. Which is opposite to what outgoing Tories are saying

I’m skeptical about think tanks anyway

 

[StJabbo1]

After their latest pay rise train drivers are due to be paid £70k on average so people have very little sympathy for them. Most people I know think train drivers in particular take the absolute piss, and once they hear about 'Spanish practices' any sympathy for railway workers evaporates completely.

You have missed deliberately or not, that this is a separate dispute about other factors than pay, see previous posts for details and avoid embarrassing yourself.

 

[......loading......]

@Osvaldorama Have you watched this? I think it is worth a watch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx2n638e6gnt

 

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I think we all know Labour are overplaying their broken economy hand. This from today’s Times…

Ben Zaranko, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the think tank, told Today on BBC Radio 4: “The first thing to stress is that the economy is growing at a relatively healthy rate. Inflation is now back close to its 2 per cent target, unemployment is low. So when the government says it’s got the worst economic inheritance ever, we should treat that with a healthy dose of scepticism. When they say they have got a terrible public finance inheritance, I think I have much more sympathy.”

The last sentence is pretty important though, right???

 

[Puck]

You have missed deliberately or not, that this is a separate dispute about other factors than pay, see previous posts for details and avoid embarrassing yourself.

Of course it's a separate dispute. It still doesn't look great. Aslef's timing is odd too. Railway strikes aren't that well supported by the public and this won't help matters.

Learn to read.

The point is that when you're paid £70k and have ridiculously generous terms of employment like getting paid to walk to your break room and getting to have your breaks restart if a manager speaks to you during them most people don't have much sympathy for your complaints, whatever they may be.

 

[Archers Road]

After their latest pay rise train drivers are due to be paid £70k on average so people have very little sympathy for them. Most people I know think train drivers in particular take the absolute piss, and once they hear about 'Spanish practices' any sympathy for railway workers evaporates completely.

And the right wing press loves to conflate railway workers with train drivers, when these are different bodies represented by different trade unions. The RMT will be meeting with the Dft next week, and no doubt any settlement will be referred to in the press alongside references to train drivers pay, despite the fact the average salary for RMT members is around 30k.

 

[Saintjoey]

The last sentence is pretty important though, right???

Yes I’m not saying anything different. But would be much better with some honesty about the situation and the legacy.

 

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Yes I’m not saying anything different. But would be much better with some honesty about the situation and the legacy.

The important thing is to understand that we all want massive change to Social Spending. It is at the heart of everything Labour stand for. Therefore the fact the finances there are terrible is absolutely the central issue for our country.

We also have a nation totally brainwashed to believe Labour cannot run an economy and the Tories can. Well they would be beyond stupid not to run with this message for a while. Beyond stupid.

 

[Puck]

And the right wing press loves to conflate railway workers with train drivers, when these are different bodies represented by different trade unions. The RMT will be meeting with the Dft next week, and no doubt any settlement will be referred to in the press alongside references to train drivers pay, despite the fact the average salary for RMT members is around 30k.

I know. The strike being discussed is Aslef.

 

[Archers Road]

I know. The strike being discussed is Aslef.

Indeed. But you said “any sympathy for railway workers evaporates completely”

 

[StJabbo1]

Learn to read.

The point is that when you're paid £70k and have ridiculously generous terms of employment like getting paid to walk to your break room and getting to have your breaks restart if a manager speaks to you during them most people don't have much sympathy for your complaints, whatever they may be.

That wasn't in the post I replied to. You bleat on about pay but ignore the fact that upcoming strikes, if they happen, aren't to do with money as has been pointed out a number of times. Anyone interrupting my breaks has gotten short shrift.

 

[StJabbo1]

Mick Lynch for president. Vive la republic.

 

[San Tejón]

The security staff at Alicante Airport started industrial action in July, but they are hamstrung by the minimum service level that has to be maintained by law.
Effectively they have to ensure that the service level remains at no lower than 86% which, in the case of Alicante Airport, means that just two members of the security staff can go on strike.
They’re not even striking everyday and on the days that they do, the strike is for two hours a day - 08.30-09.30 & 18.00-19.00.
Unless the 86%, who cannot strike are working more slowly during those hours, it’s a pretty ineffective action.
As a trade unionist I think this sucks as the workers genuinely have no strength to improve the working conditions that they are trying to change.

 

[StJabbo1]

The security staff at Alicante Airport started industrial action in July, but they are hamstrung by the minimum service level that has to be maintained by law.
Effectively they have to ensure that the service level remains at no lower than 86% which, in the case of Alicante Airport, means that just two members of the security staff can go on strike.
They’re not even striking everyday and on the days that they do, the strike is for two hours a day - 08.30-09.30 & 18.00-19.00.
Unless the 86%, who cannot strike are working more slowly during those hours, it’s a pretty ineffective action.
As a trade unionist I think this sucks as the workers genuinely have no strength to improve the working conditions that they are trying to change.

As I said before one of the most effective industrial actions is a work to rule and/or contract.

 

[Shandy_top_89]

I think we all know Labour are overplaying their broken economy hand. This from today’s Times…

Ben Zaranko, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the think tank, told Today on BBC Radio 4: “The first thing to stress is that the economy is growing at a relatively healthy rate. Inflation is now back close to its 2 per cent target, unemployment is low. So when the government says it’s got the worst economic inheritance ever, we should treat that with a healthy dose of scepticism. When they say they have got a terrible public finance inheritance, I think I have much more sympathy.”

There may be bits where they use a bit of political license, but its hard to argue against the fact they have broadly been handed an absolute bag of ****.

Rachel Reeves does sound too close to George Osborne for my liking at times though, the whole comparing the country's finances to a household budget thing is bollocks and the countries infrastructure and public services need desperate investment, i'm not sure how we achieve growth without it.

Will see how she does over time though because she is vastly better qualified for the job than Osborne ever was, for one she actually has a background in economics, rather than being a journalist with a history degree who also happens to be an heir to a Baronetcy.

 

[StJabbo1]

After their latest pay rise train drivers are due to be paid £70k on average so people have very little sympathy for them. Most people I know think train drivers in particular take the absolute piss, and once they hear about 'Spanish practices' any sympathy for railway workers evaporates completely.

Spanish practices'. Here's some of mine. Coming into the office going to my desk, going for lunch in or outside the building, having a chat at the coffee machine or printer and off home all within my 9 to 5.
Working offshore or onshore plant it can take 10/15 minutes to get from work site to the canteen for a 1/2 hour break, all part of the shift.
Travelling from office to site usually driving sometimes flying goes on my timesheet and invoice. Blue or white collar worker same principles apply.

 

[StJabbo1]

After their latest pay rise train drivers are due to be paid £70k on average so people have very little sympathy for them. Most people I know think train drivers in particular take the absolute piss, and once they hear about 'Spanish practices' any sympathy for railway workers evaporates completely.

Spanish practices'. Here's some of mine. Coming into my office going to my desk, going for lunch in or outside the building, having a chat at the coffee machine or printer and off home all within my 9 to 5.
Working offshore or onshore plant it can take 10/15 minutes to get from work site to the canteen for a 1/2 hour break, all part of the shift.
Travelling from office to site usually driving sometimes flying goes on my timesheet and invoice. Blue or white collar worker same principles apply.

 

[Puck]

Spanish practices'. Here's some of mine. Coming into my office going to my desk, going for lunch in or outside the building, having a chat at the coffee machine or printer and off home all within my 9 to 5.
Working offshore or onshore plant it can take 10/15 minutes to get from work site to the canteen for a 1/2 hour break, all part of the shift.
Travelling from office to site usually driving sometimes flying goes on my timesheet and invoice. Blue or white collar worker same principles apply.

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[It'sOnlyAGame]

Knowing how keen people have been to get regular updates on government sleaze, cronyism and general murky behaviour, I can't help but notice that they seem to have dried up. Can it be that Labour are the "honest" party that everyone was hoping for and that the phrase "they're all the same" can finally be ditched?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. The Conservative dodgy deals have been replaced by Labour dodgy deals but for some reason the appetite for posting and reading these articles doesn't seem to be so strong anymore. Here's one that the previously eagle eyed reporters missed, apparently.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyx7krvn44o