TORIES IN SECRET TALKS WITH UNIONS

[Lounge Lizard]

I knew we were all doomed when Gordon Brown invited Thatcher to Number 10.

[Martin Walsh]

Look I am no fan of the tories or for that matter New Labour. But tell me this is the unions were so weak would the Tories being willing to talk to the unions ?

Of course not , the Tories hate trade unions and their members. The only reason they are willing to talk to the unions including the CWU is that know that the cuts will mean that the unions could unite a large section of working class people and become a real problem for them.

So if the Tories want to talk then is it not right that the unions voice their concerns and their issues. If you took a vote of the members do you want the union to talk to the Government on pensions , ownership , downstream access and other unfair cherry picking , the retirement age , and a range of other things which concern the CWU membership or ingnore the Government and let them do what they want , I think the members would vote by a huge majority to support talks.

[POSTMAN]

Will revisit this thread in a year or 2.

Bookmarked.

[dvbuk55]

Look I am no fan of the tories or for that matter New Labour. But tell me this is the unions were so weak would the Tories being willing to talk to the unions ?

Of course not , the Tories hate trade unions and their members. The only reason they are willing to talk to the unions including the CWU is that know that the cuts will mean that the unions could unite a large section of working class people and become a real problem for them.

So if the Tories want to talk then is it not right that the unions voice their concerns and their issues. If you took a vote of the members do you want the union to talk to the Government on pensions , ownership , downstream access and other unfair cherry picking , the retirement age , and a range of other things which concern the CWU membership or ingnore the Government and let them do what they want , I think the members would vote by a huge majority to support talks.

Well dingo I have to say that I have heard it all.

We had the opportunity in 2007 for the union to speak to the Government when the deficit was a good deal less than it is now and the CWU, "managed to decouple it from the ballot" - yeah right. For a further three years the CWU supported Labour and had ample opportunity to "discuss the pension" and as I recall there was the promise of a ballot on the pension issue.

We now have the union hob nobbing with the Tories, and your reasoning - that old chestnut the pensions issue - give us a break ffs. DSA?, retirement?, why wait until the Tories are in power to be discussing these very real issues that have been in existence for the last 3 years when there was a Labour Government.Really are there no depths?

[fishtank]

The only reason they are willing to talk to the unions including the CWU is that know that the cuts will mean that the unions could unite a large section of working class people and become a real problem for them.

Well the cuts have been announced and will not be withdrawn so....any sign of that campaign for unity.
Nope...time for more chattering on an even bigger stage with even nicer hotels.
Your right the Tories are worried about a backlash although i have no idea why.So the intention is to engage the unions in 18 months of pointless merry-go-round "talks" which will ultimately lead nowhere.
It is a PR stunt...a sop to the unions and an insult to the members of all unions.
Talk all you want...it seems to be all some are good for.

[BELIAL]

Ever get the feeling that there are a lot more bosses than what you are led to believe?

[DGP1]

I think the members would vote by a huge majority to support talks.

I think that a huge number of members wouldn't be bothered to vote because they don't bother when it actually involves their jobs

[BELIAL]

I think the members would vote by a huge majority to support talks.

I think that a huge number of members wouldn't be bothered to vote because they don't bother when it actually involves their jobs

Coupled with the fact that the options that they are presented with to vote on are along the lines of
A. Would you like one testicle chewed off by a ravenous gerbil,
or
B. Would you like both testicles severed swiftly by means of chilli oil coated cheesewire.

I guess the power lies with the fat cats that frame the choices. Agenda setting rules OK

[DGP1]

I think the members would vote by a huge majority to support talks.

I think that a huge number of members wouldn't be bothered to vote because they don't bother when it actually involves their jobs

Coupled with the fact that the options that they are presented with to vote on are along the lines of
A. Would you like one testicle chewed off by a ravenous gerbil,
or
B. Would you like both testicles severed swiftly by means of chilli oil coated cheesewire.

I guess the power lies with the fat cats that frame the choices. Agenda setting rules OK

The less said about me and gerbils the better

[BELIAL]

I knew you'd like that bit, guess who I thought the other bit would appeal to

[DGP1]

I knew you'd like that bit, guess who I thought the other bit would appeal to

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The only reason they are willing to talk to the unions including the CWU is that know that the cuts will mean that the unions could unite a large section of working class people and become a real problem for them.

Sounds like a good reason not to talk to them.

This Coalition is weaker than it looks and the more pressure that can be put upon it the more likely the cracks will cause a collapse. The coalition, IMHO is not a true coalition of like minded people with common goals, policies and outlooks. Its a grouping of politicians who saw this grouping as the best way to gain power nothing else.

If we remove some of the pressure by talking to them then its more likely that the collapse of the coalition will be delayed and more damage will be done.

[dvbuk55]

The only reason they are willing to talk to the unions including the CWU is that know that the cuts will mean that the unions could unite a large section of working class people and become a real problem for them.

Sounds like a good reason not to talk to them.

This Coalition is weaker than it looks and the more pressure that can be put upon it the more likely the cracks will cause a collapse. The coalition, IMHO is not a true coalition of like minded people with common goals, policies and outlooks. Its a grouping of politicians who saw this grouping as the best way to gain power nothing else.

If we remove some of the pressure by talking to them then its more likely that the collapse of the coalition will be delayed and more damage will be done.

You are absolutely right TBT. How on earth can you financially support one party whilst cosying up to the opposition? What would the ordinary man in the street who is leftist by nature think of the TUC and the Union Barons in collusion with the coalition, which as you quite rightly say is a marriage of convenience and not of political alignment.

Clegg is a real greaseball who is using this compromise to further his own career, even members of his own party are uncomfortable with this and yet the unions aren't. It makes you wonder right enough, especially with the lame excuses put forward.

[BELIAL]

Tricky in it . Pull out of Liebour , pull out of the unions , both reformists and propping up the bent system ,and let all hell break loose. Short and sharp ,but there would be a change.
Or prop up the establishment and let them grind you into the dust slowly and surely until you think it fair do's for £3,ooo,ooo bonuses to be sucked from your pay packets while you struggle to buy food and fuel. OOps too late

[Big Daz]

Does ignoring the government of the day mean then we dont have our union top brass trying to convince them to alter and deal with issues arising out of the postal services act 2000.