Would you back a General strike?

[Rascal]

Think I’d gone back in time. Those days are long gone.

What days are those?

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

Shouldnt they wait for the body that sets their pay rise to set their pay rise first?

I hope they get what they want, but I dont think too many of us will.

The independent body has set the pay rise (I believe) but has been overruled by the government.

 

[blueparrot]

What days are those?

Days of general strikes. Long gone.

 

[Rascal]

Days of general strikes. Long gone.

The last one in the UK was 1926.

Withdrawl of Labour is one of the only weapons a worker has at there disposal. Union power has been smashed beyond all recognition and its thanks to Unions that many of the rights people have today exist.

It is also worth noting that the economy was at his most prosperous when Union power was at its heights. Because Unions demanded workers got a fair share of the pie that was created and that share of the pie was spent back in the economy. It was only because of the greed of the capitalist class wanting greater profits and taking more of a workers surplus value that Union power was crushed.

It is a fact that less Union power = greater income inequality.

 

[hilts]

Two other business who are facing fire and rehire tactics, British Gas and First Bus should be supported as well

As should anybody whose bosses are using the Covid crisis to alter terms and conditions.

Can we get the working time directive down to 37.5 hours as well while we are at it please.

 

[Marlo]

A+B

Unions should begin planning for this now post June.

 

[Rascal]

Can we get the working time directive down to 37.5 hours as well while we are at it please.

If it was down to me i would get it down to 25 hours. But I think with it being an EU directive it no longer applies, although I am not sure.

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

Can we get the working time directive down to 37.5 hours as well while we are at it please.

You can say goodbye to the Working Time Directive. Tories already looking at scrapping that.

 

[blueparrot]

The last one in the UK was 1926.

Withdrawl of Labour is one of the only weapons a worker has at there disposal. Union power has been smashed beyond all recognition and its thanks to Unions that many of the rights people have today exist.

It is also worth noting that the economy was at his most prosperous when Union power was at its heights. Because Unions demanded workers got a fair share of the pie that was created and that share of the pie was spent back in the economy. It was only because of the greed of the capitalist class wanting greater profits and taking more of a workers surplus value that Union power was crushed.

It is a fact that less Union power = greater income inequality.

I don't doubt any of that. however as i say harking back to it achieves nothing because they aren't coming back. So we need to deal with the reality of the world we live in,becuse playing fantasy politics of 100 years ago helps no one.

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

I don't doubt any of that. however as i say harking back to it achieves nothing because they aren't coming back. So we need to deal with the reality of the world we live in,becuse playing fantasy politics of 100 years ago helps no one.

Would that be the fantasy politics of a Government being in power to actually make lives better for people?

 

[blueparrot]

Would that be the fantasy politics of a Government being in power to actually make lives better for people?

Which has what to do with a General Strike ? I agree I'd like nothing better than a Labour government to make peoples lives better. Hopefully we are moving towards that, first Labour has to be electable. Which is why Labour has to take responibility for the wasted Corbyn years that makde it unelectable. The beiggest reason we have this government is the self indulgence of Labour members and their fantasies, who kept Corbyn when they had the chances to remove him much earlier.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

The nurses should get a better deal than what has been offered no doubt. If there was an independent review then the government should move hell and high water to find the money to meet the recommendations. My goddaughter is a young ICU nurse and i know what she has gone through the past 12mths. Governments waste money regulary. Look at the £6b of public money wasted on the house of commons renovation, they could have moved to a purpose built building for £10-20m. IMO MPs should be paid the average UK salary plus expenses and shouldnt be allowed to do other jobs. Its interesting that Starmer said he would give the nurses more but i believe has said he wouldnt raise taxes. Seems to have come up short more often than not with ideas since hes been in opposition. That said i still think he will be elected in three years time. This government has made too many mistakes imo and the lack of openess and accountability is woeful. Having said all that i would still oppose a GS as it would damage the economy when we can least afford to do so.

 

[abu13]

I have said many times in the past, money can be found when it needs to be, 1% is a fucking disgrace.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

Here's a question for the OP & other Labour supporters (more or less everyone in this sub forum).

Would Starmer support a General Strike?

The answer to that is would he fuck as that would remove his already faint chance of getting into power completely. There appears to be some very short memories on here as Labour going into the last election up against a Conservative party in complete disarray came out with the lowest number of seats for decades. That was entirely down to the 1970s Socialism put forward by Corbyn and backed by the likes of the hugely unpopular Len McClusky. The OP is proposing to go back 50 years from the 70s to the 1920s. What next? A new Jarrow Crusade with blokes playing harmonicas whilst marching on London?

 

[Paulpowersleftfoot]

C
There shouldn’t be any pay rise never mind 1%
When we have millions of people struggling financially,12 months of very little income for the self employed,shop workers,pubs,restaurants etc
The NHS workers are one of the few who have been able to work throughout the pandemic with no financial hit to them whatsoever so why the clamour for a pay rise ?
Nurses starting salary is £31k for the newly qualified,it’s not like they are on minimum wage
Seems like a bandwagon for Rasc & his commie pals to jump on to try and create a bit of social division
Comrade Jeremy & his cockbadger brother pierce will no doubt lead the marches

 

[Rascal]

Here's a question for the OP & other Labour supporters (more or less everyone in this sub forum).

Would Starmer support a General Strike?

The answer to that is would he fuck as that would remove his already faint chance of getting into power completely. There appears to be some very short memories on here as Labour going into the last election up against a Conservative party in complete disarray came out with the lowest number of seats for decades. That was entirely down to the 1970s Socialism put forward by Corbyn and backed by the likes of the hugely unpopular Len McClusky. The OP is proposing to go back 50 years from the 70s to the 1920s. What next? A new Jarrow Crusade with blokes playing harmonicas whilst marching on London?

I don't think Starmer would, but you never know.

I think you need to learn a bit of history about the 1970s.

The reason behind the strikes of the 1970s was Edward Heath's incomes policy and his reaction the OPEC Oil Crisis. It has nothing to do with Socialism.

Heath introduced a policy that was totally unworkable and it fuelled dissent in the Union's as he broke promises he made. The three day week was introduced by a Conservative govt, as a response to the OPEC crisis, that crisis fuelled inflation which was compounded by Heath's incomes policy and as wages fell behind inflation and that led to industrial unrest. Heath's mishandling of the crisis led to the fall of his government and the 2 elections of 1974 in which Labour took power. The Tories had made such a mess of the economy that the then Chancellor Healey had to go the IMF for a bailout. Labour struggled under the terms of the bailout and that led to the winter of discontent.

What is without doubt that the narrative from the 70s was exploited by Thatcher with her Anti-Union sentiment, the exact same thing happened in the USA with Reagan and his strong anti-Union stance. Both saw Unions as a hinderances to capitalism and the free market and we witnessed the birth of Neo-liberalism that has destroyed so much of British society and nearly all of British manufacturing.

The loss of Union power has led to zero hours contracts, wage suppression, growing income inequality and a slow down in Economic growth that can be attributed to productivity. It is a fact that the economic growth and productivity were highest when Union power was greatest, but Unions were always seen as a threat to the establishment and their control of the levers of power.

Since the rise of Thatcher Unions have been demonised by the ruling class, they have been criticised and misrepresented by the RW media and its time in my opinion they fought back, because we need strong unions to counter the effects of capitalism and inequality on society.

 

[Rascal]

C
There shouldn’t be any pay rise never mind 1%
When we have millions of people struggling financially,12 months of very little income for the self employed,shop workers,pubs,restaurants etc
The NHS workers are one of the few who have been able to work throughout the pandemic with no financial hit to them whatsoever so why the clamour for a pay rise ?
Nurses starting salary is £31k for the newly qualified,it’s not like they are on minimum wage
Seems like a bandwagon for Rasc & his commie pals to jump on to try and create a bit of social division
Comrade Jeremy & his cockbadger brother pierce will no doubt lead the marches

The social division is being created by those who do not support the work of all our hard working public servants.

The Tories have always divided to rule, because they rule in the interests of the capital not labour.

We are the 6th richest country in the world and nobody should be struggling, nobody should be in financial difficulty, nobody should be homeless, nobody should be without a decently paid job. All workers should be paid their worth and not work to line the pockets of the super rich capitalist elite.

If you like working and being exploited by capitalist elite then that's your choice of course, but being a wage slave to a group of people with yachts in the Caymen Islands is not my choice, i want everyone to do well, not just the elite.

 

[give it to gordon]

A and B for me , we all knew the Tories wouldnt reward the NHS frontline workers. As sure as day follows night.

I am not at all surprised with this 1% payrise I am more surprised that people are surprised to be honest.

As my old man also said as I life long member of the labour party the mantra is ' the rich get richer and the poor get poorer under any Tory government '

 

[johnnytapia]

If teachers end up with more holidays I’m in.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

I don't think Starmer would, but you never know.

I think you need to learn a bit of history about the 1970s.

The reason behind the strikes of the 1970s was Edward Heath's incomes policy and his reaction the OPEC Oil Crisis. It has nothing to do with Socialism.

Heath introduced a policy that was totally unworkable and it fuelled dissent in the Union's as he broke promises he made. The three day week was introduced by a Conservative govt, as a response to the OPEC crisis, that crisis fuelled inflation which was compounded by Heath's incomes policy and as wages fell behind inflation and that led to industrial unrest. Heath's mishandling of the crisis led to the fall of his government and the 2 elections of 1974 in which Labour took power. The Tories had made such a mess of the economy that the then Chancellor Healey had to go the IMF for a bailout. Labour struggled under the terms of the bailout and that led to the winter of discontent.

What is without doubt that the narrative from the 70s was exploited by Thatcher with her Anti-Union sentiment, the exact same thing happened in the USA with Reagan and his strong anti-Union stance. Both saw Unions as a hinderances to capitalism and the free market and we witnessed the birth of Neo-liberalism that has destroyed so much of British society and nearly all of British manufacturing.

The loss of Union power has led to zero hours contracts, wage suppression, growing income inequality and a slow down in Economic growth that can be attributed to productivity. It is a fact that the economic growth and productivity were highest when Union power was greatest, but Unions were always seen as a threat to the establishment and their control of the levers of power.

Since the rise of Thatcher Unions have been demonised by the ruling class, they have been criticised and misrepresented by the RW media and its time in my opinion they fought back, because we need strong unions to counter the effects of capitalism and inequality on society.

Thanks for the history lesson but I was in my late teens/early 20s during that period and I was working at Dunlops near town during the three day week. At that time my politics were very similar to yours now but like many people as I increasingly saw that Labour offered nothing to me I went further to the Right and started to vote Conservative (including the Thatcher period) & I have done so ever since.

You'll never vote for the Conservatives and I'll never vote Labour again.