Attacking trade unions and trade unionism

[Louis MacNeice]

So we have the Tories proposals to expunge what it left of trade unionism in the UK.

1. Impose the demand for a 50% turnout in industrial action ballots.

2. Impose the demand for 40% of eligible member to vote in favour of industrial action in 'essential services' including transport and education.

3. Make the presence of more than 6 pickets a criminal rather than civil offence.

4. Allow employers to contract casual workers to cover strike days - this is alongside the two weeks’ notice demanded for strike action.

5. Limit facility time afforded public sector trade union reps.

6. Subject unions to an expanded regime of fines for a widened range of potential offences.


There is more but you get the picture. These proposals are aimed at attacking the most effective unions (e.g. RMT and PCS) and undermining the very idea of organised labour, the notion of being a trade unionist, of belonging to a union.


Unsurprisingly it's more of the same neo-liberal ideological attacks which are trying to finalise the social cleansing of social housing.

Louis MacNeice

 

[Pickman's model]

i think even anita roddick would grant that the tories are being real shits over this

 

[Sprocket.]

The purpose is to remove any viable opposition before the attacks on workers rights to sick pay, holidays and any other benefits begin.
Public service workers, NHS and transport would be in my experience the first victims of these insidious, lower than snake belly bastards.
The only hope is that unions and workers realise a bad law needs breaking repeatedly and force legislation to change.
Whilst all those workers who moan about unions having too much power by causing transport disruptions can experience the shit storm coming when they get their holidays and salaries reduced.
They would reintroduce slavery if they could.
Masters and servants, they will be expecting cap touching soon!

 

[Pickman's model]

The purpose is to remove any viable opposition before the attacks on workers rights to sick pay, holidays and any other benefits begin.
Public service workers, NHS and transport would be in my experience the first victims of these insidious, lower than snake belly bastards.
The only hope is that unions and workers realise a bad law needs breaking repeatedly and force legislation to change.
Whilst all those workers who moan about unions having too much power by causing transport disruptions can experience the shit storm coming when they get their holidays and salaries reduced.
They would reintroduce slavery if they could.
Masters and servants, they will be expecting cap touching soon!

they'll want more than their caps touched

 

[frogwoman]

they'll want more than their caps touched

You bastard

 

[Pickman's model]

You bastard

not my fault, fw

 

[Sprocket.]

they'll want more than their caps touched

Helmets?

 

[Pickman's model]

Helmets?

 

[campanula]

forelocks tugged

 

[ItWillNeverWork]

they'll want more than their caps touched

If they try any shenanigans like that then you'll just have to beat them off.

 

[Citizen66]

Good luck with training up a B squad of 20,000 tube workers ready to scab. What will they do the other 350+ none strike days of the year?

 

[Pickman's model]

Good luck with training up a B squad of 20,000 tube workers ready to scab. What will they do the other 350+ none strike days of the year?

yeh, it's the same with my job, it's not something you can do just by turning up. although i don't have charge of 1,000 tons of fast-moving train

 

[Pickman's model]

forelocks tugged

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

yeh, it's the same with my job, it's not something you can do just by turning up. although i don't have charge of 1,000 tons of fast-moving train

1000 tons of slow moving books

 

[Citizen66]

yeh, it's the same with my job, it's not something you can do just by turning up. although i don't have charge of 1,000 tons of fast-moving train

They try to multi skill the managers for strike days - and the trainers refuse to train them. So they'll need a B squad of trainers.

 

[Pickman's model]

They try to multi skill the managers for strike days - and the trainers refuse to train them. So they'll need a B squad of trainers.

let's call them the b specials.

 

[Pickman's model]

1000 tons of slow moving books

 

[Sprocket.]

All true and very sad.
This decline started following Grunwicks, the desire by all governments since has been the eradication of unions.
I have been involved since I was a sixteen year old apprentice, politicised by some good old men and women striving for change.
Perhaps it's time to walk away and leave it to others.
good luck comrades!

Maybe join Derek Hatton setting up cycle schemes.

 

[Pickman's model]

All true and very sad.
This decline started following Grunwicks, the desire by all governments since has been the eradication of unions.
I have been involved since I was a sixteen year old apprentice, politicised by some good old men and women striving for change.
Perhaps it's time to walk away and leave it to others.
good luck comrades!

"perhaps it's time to walk away and leave it to others"?

i never had you down for 'brave sir robin'

 

[Sprocket.]

"perhaps it's time to walk away and leave it to others"?

i never had you down for 'brave sir robin'

Okay I'm back in! Can't not be involved.
Mrs. Desai would haunt me.
Good discussion on Radio 5live at the moment.

 

[StoneRoad]

Walking away from this attack is just what the nasty party / vermin want.

If only people would realise that almost all the benefits - like paid holidays and 35/40 hour weeks and the state welfare system - are the ultimate result of pressure from an organised workforce, and that means trade unions and collective bargaining.
Rights which need to be protected, and now.

 

[cesare]

Have the biggest unions published responses yet?

 

[Sprocket.]

Have the biggest unions published responses yet?

http://uniteresist.org/2015/07/we-n...d-our-unions-fight-the-tory-anti-union-laws/#

 

[cesare]

http://uniteresist.org/2015/07/we-n...d-our-unions-fight-the-tory-anti-union-laws/#

They *have* to do a lot immediately and all through the summer forcing the MPs away from recess and spoiling their summer holidays - aiming for October is too late.

 

[Sprocket.]

They *have* to do a lot immediately and all through the summer forcing the MPs away from recess and spoiling their summer holidays - aiming for October is too late.

What and disrupt workers (teachers this means you) on their holidays.

 

[cesare]

What and disrupt workers (teachers this means you) on their holidays.

Maximum disruption and no let up.

 

[Sprocket.]

I know it may come across as 'in the good old days' but when we had grass roots, rank and file organisations within our workplaces we were capable of instant effective action.
The Unions themselves have allowed a divide to grow between the leadership and the workers.
This is as big a cause of union membership decline as any legislation from Westminster.
The Labour movement lurched to the Right in an attempt to woo the middle class generation that only exist because of the struggle to achieve social mobility brought about through workers commitment to no return to the pre war squalor and deprivation.
It is these 'I'm alright jacks and Jaquelines' that have no idea of the fight that previous generations have fought.

We require and should be demanding the repeal of all anti trade union legislation.
The Labour Party should be cringing in shame and I have no doubt if it comes to votes in the commons that the SNP members will vote against any new laws but not surprised if Labour abstain.

 

[chandlerp]

So a 50% turnout and a 40% in favour before you can legally strike.

Pity these percentages don't apply to those running for government. the cunts.

 

[Pickman's model]

So a 50% turnout and a 40% in favour before you can legally strike.

Pity these percentages don't apply to those running for government. the cunts.

as i've said before, i would be interested to see those proportions applied to the passage of laws through parliament, which i think's a more apt equivalent.

 

[Wilf]

Where the fuck have we ended up - a place where the only real chance of any of this being changed is the house of lords.

Everything about this is vile and a sign of much we've lost. The only possible positives are that in order to get a strike, union officials and reps - at least where there are enough of them - will have to get out and talk to members. And who knows, there might be the development of new creative tactics to get round this legislation.