Would you back a General strike?

[Blue Maverick]

Great isn't it...... I'm on the verge of accepting a new role after being contacted and asked to come out of retirement... It's all about the package they offer whether I sign on the dotted line but it could be an absolute no brainer financially... The best part is it's great to be wanted and it's even better to be able to work because I want to and not because I have to.... Had it not been for Covid making my first 11 months of retirement a little boring then I doubt I'd even entertain a role of any kind...

Same with me Covid has shown me I can’t sit around forever, maybe just thevfirst 6-12 months ;)

 

[Bluemanc100]

Same with me Covid has shown me I can’t sit around forever, maybe just thevfirst 6-12 months ;)

Sorry if this derails the thread a little but I must say I've coped better with the first 11 months than I ever thought I would.. Everybody expected me to be like a caged tiger.... I could instantly regret going back to work but at the end of the day I can always stop again... That's me done talking about myself.... I'll leave the thread to get back on topic

Ciao

 

[Rascal]

So £31k is only enough to live on now....

There are lots of people who are worse off than the nurses and I agree they’ve had a tough 12 months but they’ve been employed throughout the pandemic, had more overtime than they can handle (I imagine) and earned a reasonable wage for their efforts...

It’s black and white. Of course they could be paid more but that would have to be justified in an environment where other public sector workers (some who have also been exposed on a daily basis to Covid) are getting nothing

Should everyone only be paid what they need to live on?

 

[leeneel]

I will carry on going to work like I have had to do all my adult life and all through the pandemic.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

Well, I wouldn't like to bet my knackers on the possibility of a general strike,
as hundreds of thousands now have nobody to strike against, and most of the rest have been on enforced leave for 12 months, earning a percentage of what they used to.
Asking them to support an service that has had no redundancies, has a guaranteed future, gets paid during illness, a guaranteed pension and an average wage over £30 grand may be a bit difficult to sell.
But best of luck.

 

[metalblue]

Should everyone only be paid what they need to live on?

I suspect I know where you’re going with this....over a minimum living wage aren’t the rest already gets paid what they need to live on?

We’re like gases, expanding our expenditure to our income.

Money ain’t worth having if you aren’t going to enjoy it.... Although we all know a few folk tighter than a ducks arse, with short arms and deep pockets who are always pleading poverty when it’s their round.

 

[Rascal]

I suspect I know where you’re going with this....over a minimum living wage aren’t the rest already gets paid what they need to live on?

We’re like gases, expanding our expenditure to our income.

Money ain’t worth having if you aren’t going to enjoy it.... Although we all know a few folk tighter than a ducks arse, with short arms and deep pockets who are always pleading poverty when it’s their round.

Its an interesting notion, only paying somebody what they need to live on.

The Capitalist class would love it, think of the increased profits. Then though its possible I would agree with the notion, in a Communist society where goods were plentiful and distributed according to need, there would be no need to pay more than what people need to live on and the extra could be used for societal rather than individual benefit.

Quite by accident I think @Bluemanc100 has highlighted a notion that is well worthy of discussion.

 

[Bluemanc100]

Its an interesting notion, only paying somebody what they need to live on.

The Capitalist class would love it, think of the increased profits. Then though its possible I would agree with the notion, in a Communist society where goods were plentiful and distributed according to need, there would be no need to pay more than what people need to live on and the extra could be used for societal rather than individual benefit.

Quite by accident I think @Bluemanc100 has highlighted a notion that is well worthy of discussion.

Most of my good ideas are courtesy of mental accidents ;-)

 

[inbetween]

The irony of the left-wingers on here calling for strikes in solidarity with public sector workers whilst they hold political views that would result in damage to any hope of pay rises for private sector workers.

Maybe what we really need is a general strike against the politically narrow? Thankfully socialists can never hide from the slogan "we're all in it together".

 

[Mr Kobayashi]

The irony of the left-wingers on here calling for strikes in solidarity with public sector workers whilst they hold political views that would result in damage to any hope of pay rises for private sector workers.

Maybe what we really need is a general strike against the politically narrow? Thankfully socialists can never hide from the slogan "we're all in it together".

Surely those "socialists" would claim that they want rights for private workers that they themselves have or all workers previously had but those have since been removed?

Most developed countries recognise the right to solidarity action/general strikes, and also ban or restrict use of strike breaking labour.

Apart from the very small independent businesses, or casual and seasonal freelance why shouldn't workers have sickness pay? Surely the state could set up an independent body that takes on the administration of an insurance scheme, and workers and employers could then pay into this, with maybe a small VAT levy to top it up.