When the unemployment threat is less, the urge to strike is

[TrueBlueTerrier]

When the unemployment threat is less, the urge to strike is higher


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel ... 961058.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thousands of BA cabin crew voted to strike over pay and conditions. Check-in staff and airport workers at SAS Ground Services are preparing to walk out over Christmas. British Eurostar drivers threatened a two-day strike over their lunch money. And the Communication Workers Union retains a mandate to call Royal Mail postmen out on strike with only seven days’ notice.

What has triggered this surge of union activity? What was the tipping point? And, with Britain still to emerge from the longest and deepest recession since the Second World War, is there more to come?

Paradoxically, it has not helped that unemployment has risen much less rapidly than expected, with workers accepting pay cuts, going part-time or taking sabbaticals in return for keeping their jobs. A number of workers, egged on by the unions, believe that they have already made significant sacrifices and that enough is enough. When the likelihood of unemployment is less, the appetite to strike over pay freezes is sharpened.

If Labour was on course for an election victory next year Gordon Brown might have had the muscle to stop such strike action. While the Tories are keen to draw unfair comparisons with 1979 — with Labour behind in the polls and losing its influence over the unions — it is reasonable to argue that activists have less incentive to appease Labour and sacrifice the needs of their members.

The Government faced a dilemma over the threat of a BA strike. On one hand, it wanted to express concern for the public — its voters — but, on the other, it was keen to avoid taking responsibility for the outcome of any arbitration.

No government has any interest in returning to the experience of the 1960s when Harold Wilson repeatedly intervened in big industrial disputes. Nor should it, not least because of the level of detail involved in such negotiations. What does the Government know of cabin crew pay?

It is no coincidence the industries kicking up the most fuss are all rooted in heavy manufacturing and legacy sectors, whose past has firmly defined their structure, cost base and culture. Companies such as British Airways and Royal Mail, both formerly state-controlled, are heavily unionised and have also been run like a mini Civil Service.

Both operate in industries where they once held an effective monopoly and have now been forced to face increased competition and change.

The worst may be yet to come. With the Tories and Labour positioning themselves for public spending cuts, this heavily unionised sector may well prove to be a crucible for fresh unrest.

[norbert]

" Paradoxically, it has not helped that unemployment has risen much less rapidly than expected " - very 80's

very yellow & spiked for Dave Snooty and his Eton Rifles - " Uncle Rupert " is looking after him - just cosy clubs

Walsh & McCarthy pushed them into that corner - vicious & unfortunate

[BELIAL]

workers, egged on by the unions, believe that they have already made significant sacrifices and that enough is enough.

Could anyone furnish details of an egging union that is doing something other than pretending to fight a defensive rearguard action; I'd like to join one

[fishtank]

workers, egged on by the unions, believe that they have already made significant sacrifices and that enough is enough.

Could anyone furnish details of an egging union that is doing something other than pretending to fight a defensive rearguard action; I'd like to join one

If you replace the word "egged" by the word "sh*t" it makes perfect sense

[postie09]

The Times is now read by more City management types than even the FT, and its current editor is extremely anti-unions. both the royal mail and the currrent BA situations saw the workers views misrepresented. during our strike, emphasis was put on the pay freeze and opposition to pretty much any modernisation. in my experience this was the view of few royal mail workers, but media misrepresentation left us needing to explain the true reasons for striking ourselves. similar attempts have been made to villify BA workers. in the times2 they did give workers a voice, BA workers saying how they oppose condition changes as they would affect the levels of service. however that article soon turned pretty smutty with the insinuation that they're overpaid and spend half their time involved in midair orgies.

[BELIAL]

Yes I see it's a typo ,that's much clearer now