Tag Archives: november 30 strike

Good turnout for Unions but will Cameron listen?

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in Politics, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Unfortunately I have not been able to witness the biggest gathering for decades, show defiance to oppressive Government policies, as I spent most the day in bed after the removal of my cancerous legion. I was really looking forward to joining all comrades at the embankment on a day which will be written in history, instead I have listened to all the banal comments about the strike from the public. The two main comments were:

1. They have made my life awkward because schools are closed (are strikes meant to be convenient

2. I work in the private sector and my pension is shit, so why should they have a good pension.

Yes these two common public opinions is what the Government are taking as their justification for screwing the backbone of this country. If Cameron has his way this will never happen again as there will be nobody left working in the public sector.

As far as the sustainability issue goes how can we not give the public sector a good pension scheme  but allow tax avoidance from various companies. Even HMRC are now taking legal advice to see if the tax avoidance was actually legal.

Common Sense unveiled by Newcastle County Council

28 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in Politics, Social History

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

With the strike looming in two days, it is easy to focus on the disruption that will be cause (evil militant unions, selfish public sector people who will live like kings on their pensions whilst eveyone else will live in the gutter), but nothing has been mentioned about all those going on strike will actually lose a days pay in the month preceding christmas. Whilst this won’t have impact on the bigger earners (will Brendan Barber lose a days pay?), those who are at the lower end of the scale it will have a bigger impact. For some people it isn’t a flippant decison to go on strike and may be simply their last resort, hence the importance of Wednesday.   

However, it is nice to hear that Newcastle county council are going to leave the deduction of strike money until February; this not only gives leeway for Christmas but will also be taken when their is two months grace with the council tax. I hope other councils follow suit.

Osborne defends ‘good deal on pensions’.

27 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Politics, Social History, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Whilst Danny Alexander has threatened to withdraw the offer if the strikes go ahead, George Osborne has defended the offer put to unions, stating that it is more than fair. Yes it is more than fair when compared to the majority of private pensions, which are just shit; it doesn’t make the offer fair. One of the biggest draws to working in the public sector is the benefits that they provide; you may not paid as much as if you were in the private sector but at least you had your pension, which is worth a lot. It’s funny how this is not mentioned.

Most of the comparisons regarding public sector and private sector are true, but this is not because the public sector pensions are overly generous. These are the type of pension schemes that many companies used to offer (some still do), until the greed of salesman took over convincing people that it is better to have a personal pension than a final salary scheme. Yes it is better for the consultant looking at his fat commission bonus but not for the member who gave up a guaranteed pension to gamble on the stock market.

The stock market is just like one big bookie, and they always say you never see a broke bookmaker!

 

and now they try to make us turn on each other.

24 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by in Economy, Religion, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

The biggest walkout for years is fast approaching us, and the tactics of the Government is to undermine support for the action. The Treasury have announced that the strike will cost the economy £ 500 million and threatened that this is bound to have the consequence of more job cuts, despite allowing many companies(Vodaphone et al) off a bigger tax bill. As always the Tories are full of contradictions thaty always tend to favour the rich. Divide and conquer will not work as long as long as people recognise that’s what it is and not get drawn into the “I’m alright Jack” mentality.

Dangle the carrot for those near retirement (pension will not be affected), and spread fear about the loss of jobs, in attempt to break union support, but everybody can see that the Tories economic policy has not worked. People have already lost their jobs, staying quiet and subserviant has not got people anywhere. The only way forward is to stand up and be counted and fight for your yourself and your colleagues.

The Tories are now meant to be encouraging employers to let parents bring their children to work, as most the schools will be closed. It is quite ironic that this could cause more unrest and chaos than the strikes themselves!

Getting prepared for November 30th.

18 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in Politics, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

The final pieces of the jigsaw are being put into place, the largest of the teaching unions, NASUWT has confirmed that the ballot was over 80% in favour of strike action. With Unite joining UNISON it could be the nearest to a General Strike that this country has seen for decades. Even the National Association of Probation Officers announced on Thursday that members had voted for industrial action by more than four-to-one, and it will be be only the third time they have come out on strike in over hundred years.

Do you know what that Cuntin Osborne has done (quote from The Exorcist) – he actually needs to borrow more than even Labour projected they would need without the drastic cuts, it doesn’t take a genius to realise that he doesn’t know what he is doing. I wonder if there is anything he is actually good at, as obviously economics is not his strong point. More Unemployment, less tax, more benefits – even my little economic knowledge knows that this doesn’t encorage growth.

Let November 30th be a day that will be taught in history over the next hundred years, the day the public showed their anger for the complete fucking mess the Tories are making of the country.

Danny Alexander attacks Union Leaders

07 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in Politics, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Danny Alexander accused Union Leaders of being militat, and demanding strike action when they have been offered a good settlement. Two points:

1. Unions are far from militant these days, if anything they usually keep the status quo and definately steer away from any talk of a general strike.

2. Of course he thinks the new pensions offer was generous – he’s part of the Govt that offered it. m

The quality rag The Sun have reported:

ministers are writing directly to 2.5million public sector workers in a last-ditch bid to head off a Winter of Discontent.

It’s great that they are building up the public’s fear of what strike action may bring – a winter of discontent – this will happen with or without a strike the only difference being is whether we all simply accept all of the changes that the Tories want to bring in, no matter what.

 

Is Labour turning back to it’s working class routes?

06 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Social History, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Both Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, and Leader of the opposition Ed Milliband have spoken today about the significance of the occupy movement at St Paul’s. No scatological demonology rhetoric was used (bloody anarchists they get everywhere!) but they both spoke of:

a much deeper unease in society about the rules by which society is being run

Rules are usually designed to ensure that anyone participating has an equal chance / opportunity until greed outweighs any form of justice. “Because I can……..because I want” is a dangerous ethos for anyone to rule by. With the demo on the 9th November and the proposed strike for 30th November will see the public converge to display their anger.

 

Mass unemployment created in order to undermine strikes.

18 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in Politics, Social History

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

It was reported in the mail yesterday that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are advertising in job centres for relief fire staff to cover the proposed walkout on November 30th. An intensive 3 week training course (usually 3 months) is all that is needed to cover our safety – what a fucking joke.

The Fire Brigade Union has slammed the plan, describing the volunteers as ‘cardboard cut-out firefighters’.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2050021/Inexperienced-firefighters-set-operate-21-engines-strike.html#ixzz1b9SIgZjT

NAHT announce ballot date for November Strike.

22 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Politics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

The National Association of Head Teachers will ballot it’s members on strike action, with the result expected at the beginning of November; if agreed the members of NAHT will be striking on the 30 November 2011. This should hopefully kick off other ballots within the public sector for a mass walk out on the 30th. The might of the unions has been severly diminished but not defeated; united we stand, keep the red flag flying etc etc.