I suspect a more free campaign is permitted in Zimbabwe and Syria.
Keep it up. Comedy gold. 
Chat Forum
Strikes to cost UK £500m.
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Posted 6 months ago #
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dmjb4 - Member
Northwind: I've quoted the general secretary of the union in question!
And the quote doesn't support your argument at all, or indeed relate to your argument at all.
Posted 6 months ago # -
"neutral position"
Why do you think the unions should be neutral?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Well it's obvious ...... because they shouldn't be taking sides in this dispute.
They should remain neutral ...... just like the government is.
What's the matter with you 'loony types' ffs ?
Posted 6 months ago # -
i'm rather liking the fact that the government, having had quite some time to prepare for this, have done almost nothing. except that is offer, what was it, £450 for the day for managers to do the border thing. which they've turned down. sweet.
which means the government is saving even more money given that they're not actually paying any of the strikers. that means they must've saved a chunk of money. maybe they could spread that around a bit to compensate businesses seeing as they've failed to sort out the negotiations. or does that only happen if they're bailing out their banker pals?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Posted 6 months ago # -
I suspect a more free campaign is permitted in Zimbabwe and Syria
We voted for it,despite anything you are trying to claim;however if your chat on here is anything to go by,the teachers strike will barely affect you,as there is no danger you will have kids.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Nice response from behind the protection of your keyboard there duckman. No need to start getting nasty, try adding to the debate
Posted 6 months ago # -
Debate with someone who has been insulting from their first post?
Why is it okay for dmjb4 to insult people but not for duckman to respond in kind?
Could it have something to do with which argument* you support?
*
Posted 6 months ago # -
dmjb4,
Mr Strutton is GMB national secretary. Less than 1/3 of his members back the strike. 2/3 of them are pretty cheesed off that the union is proposing that the majority of members should hand over an obscene amount of money so that a small minority can live in luxury.
Very simple question dmjb4,
If 2/3 of the union are against the strike, why didn't they just vote against it when balloted?
Posted 6 months ago # -
No need to start getting nasty, try adding to the debate
Try following the debate, if you had, you would have noticed who started the nastiness
Posted 6 months ago # -
If a days strike by public sector workers cost 500 million it just shows how valuable they are
Or it could be a simple piece of tory propaganda
Posted 6 months ago # -
No need to start getting nasty, try adding to the debate
You are right; and I didn't start the getting nasty bit.However trying to debate with somebody who compares a legal strike (trust me on this one, The Tories would love the strike to be unlawful)to Zimbabwe doesn't really deserve much else.And for the record, I would say it to his face.
One thing I find amazing on these threads is the fact that a lot of the people are acting as if it is a suprise. We were balloted on strike action in September. This was not a national secret kept by us "loony leftys" It was also no secret we would vote yes, So...you have had what,two months to make other arrangements? I wonder who you are going to blame it on when your kids can't play sport,go on trips etc,do the DoE award,get music lessons,all the stuff we do over and above our agreed contracts (not that they seem to mean much to Dave). Will that be our fault as well? Look on this as a trail run for the next year.For the record, Neither I, nor any of the folk I work with, want your sympathy.We want our agreed terms and conditions of service.
Posted 6 months ago # -
If a days strike by public sector workers cost 500 million it just shows how valuable they are
Or it could be a simple piece of tory propaganda
Aaah, so you're not valuable after all.
Posted 6 months ago # -
This tread is useless without kittens!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Here you go Tiger:
Posted 6 months ago # -
Less than 1/3 of his members back the strike
What percentage of the electorate voted for this Tory government?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Come on grum that's completely different!
Posted 6 months ago # -
So using the Ford Prefect argument for the construction workers to not knock down Arthur Dent's house. If we assume the strike will go ahead the cost UK be £500M, instead H R Gov accept this, stick the £0.5B in to the Public sector pension fund and jobs a good un.
Simplest and the Government actually came up with the solution! Who'd have think it?
I think you will find that "costing the economy 0.5 Bn" and "costing the government 0.5 Bn" are not the same thing. Roughly about 1/3rd of gdp goes back to the govt. And of course the govt. will save money on pay for the day - depending on the number of strikers they could actually break even.I would suggest the alternative proposal: every day you strike "we" take 0.5B out of the pot... ...having given you the best offer and you are now damaging the economy! That would focus a few minds on the fact there isn't some giant endless pot of cash!
Now, is 0.5B realistic? Well UK GDP was £1453 Bn last year. So if every day generates equal value that is approx 4 Bn per day (since it a week day it is probably more). I would suggest if a significant proportion of public sector workers going on a coordinated strike for a day with the objective of maximum disruption, doesn't impact the GDP by at least 10% then there's possibly a lot of people we don't need - now that could really save the country money.
Some figures were suggesting that the snow last year cost the economy £1.2 Bn a day, and presumably the Unions' aim is for maximum disruption to public services to make a point. So whilst the unions continue their power struggle they might want to remember they are only about 1/3rd as effective as a few flakes of frozen water!
Posted 6 months ago # -
So using the Ford Prefect argument for the construction workers to not knock down Arthur Dent's house. If we assume the strike will go ahead the cost UK be £500M, instead H R Gov accept this, stick the £0.5B in to the Public sector pension fund and jobs a good un.
Simplest and the Government actually came up with the solution! Who'd have think it?
I think you will find that "costing the economy 0.5 Bn" and "costing the government 0.5 Bn" are not the same thing. Roughly about 1/3rd of gdp goes back to the govt. And of course the govt. will save money on pay for the day - depending on the number of strikers they could actually break even.I would suggest the alternative proposal: every day you strike "we" take 0.5B out of the pot... ...having given you the best offer and you are now damaging the economy! That would focus a few minds on the fact there isn't some giant endless pot of cash!
Now, is 0.5B realistic? Well UK GDP was £1453 Bn last year. So if every day generates equal value that is approx 4 Bn per day (since it a week day it is probably more). I would suggest if a significant proportion of public sector workers going on a coordinated strike for a day with the objective of maximum disruption, doesn't impact the GDP by at least 10% then there's possibly a lot of people we don't need - now that could really save the country money.
Some figures were suggesting that the snow last year cost the economy £1.2 Bn a day, and presumably the Unions' aim is for maximum disruption to public services to make a point. So whilst the unions continue their power struggle they might want to remember they are only about 1/3rd as effective as a few flakes of frozen water!
Posted 6 months ago # -
Posted 6 months ago # -
I would suggest the alternative proposal: every day you strike "we" take 0.5B out of the pot... ...having given you the best offer and you are now damaging the economy! That would focus a few minds on the fact there isn't some giant endless pot of cash!
Is it really that hard to grasp that in a dispute between two parties both are equally responsible for any losses to the country. To just blame the public sector workers shows a complete bias in you thinking.
Posted 6 months ago # -
having given you the best offer
I think you'll find that the unions don't want any offer, they want things as they are.
Posted 6 months ago # -
If we assume the strike will go ahead the cost UK be £500M
opposition propaganda.. plain and simple.. 90% of any political issue these days is fought by using propaganda to sway public opinion..
what a load of bolleaux
Posted 6 months ago # -
what a load of bolleaux
Is that some kind of Belgian cake?
Posted 6 months ago # -
In the scheme of things £500m isn't all that big a deal
Posted 6 months ago # -
£500m? Doesn't that represent about half a millisecond of Greek interest payments?
Posted 6 months ago # -
Just have your strike. Its OK.
Is that Ernie's cat?
Posted 6 months ago # -
I think you'll find that the unions don't want any offer, they want things as they are.
be fair ernie why should we not punish the public sector for this mess ...someone needs to pay for this mess and i dont see why it should be those that caused it or bankroll the toriesPosted 6 months ago # -
<wotz he on about?>
Posted 6 months ago # -
Of course another way of looking at it is to think that that £500 M of productivity isn't "lost" at all - it's just delayed for a day.
Posted 6 months ago # -
What we need is a general strike to force the government to legislate to properly deal with the the biggest issues - public sector pensions are wee niggles compared to the issues in the whole economy. Pensions are more easily paid in a strong economy - ignoring population demographics for a moment.
I am more militant about the bonds between business and politics crippling democracy, than just about any other subject under the sun.
Posted 6 months ago # -
Of course another way of looking at it is to think that that £500 M of productivity isn't "lost" at all - it's just delayed for a day.
that is lost over the course of the year though, as the next day's productivity is 'lost' and so on. Unless everyone's going to come in on a saturday and make the time up, I think lost is a pretty good description..
fwiw, my other half is going on strike, as she just fancies an (unpaid) day off
Posted 6 months ago # -
If we can keep this hot until the Olympics start, a few well timed strike days then could be interesting.
Posted 6 months ago # -
what a load of bolleaux
Is that some kind of Belgian cake?
yes, as made famous by the Chef from South park, they're chocolate salty ballsPosted 6 months ago #
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