Hmmmm... let's see....
Has Mick Lynch recently given a £100 million of his union members money to one of his mates for construction of a hotel presently valued at £20 million?
Is he regularly pictured at his table at the Ivy?
Has he got his union to buy him a half million pound bolthole in Chelsea?
Until we know the answers to those questions, I think the main difference I can see is that he seems to be actually interested in representing his members interests rather than spending all his time on self-promotion, shopping in Selfridges or having long lunches at expensive London eateries
Anyway... just listening to the news this morning and it sounds like the government may have massively misjudged the public mood on this one if they're seeking a re-run of the miners strike.
The train operators are sounding like they're welcoming government interference about as much as the unions are, and they'd rather negotiate a solution rather than be used as pawns in the Tory's culture war. Merseyrail have just negotiated a settlement without any drama.
A representative from the recruitment agencies was on saying that there is no way they'd want to get involved in providing workers to break picket lines, and they don't need to anyway as they can't get enough workers to fill the available positions they already have, so they certainly don't need to be dragged into any political mither.
They also pointed out that these are skilled positions and you can't just get anybody to rock up and do the job, even if they could find anyone inclined to do so
It’s a bonkers policy, the agency workers as strike breakers one that is, as if the public won’t notice the huge “we want to turn workers against workers” label attached to all the Daily Mail front pages and low level government members’ media appearances surrounding it. Not really a policy for government, it’s not meant to create any actual change on the ground, it’s just another signal… more red meat. Always campaigning, never actually governing. Same old.
I heard on the radio yesterday that it wasn’t external agencies that they were trying to get in to cover work, it’s the movement of staff within the company to cover striking roles.
Apparantely at present they aren’t allowed to get someone sitting in a office to cover an operational role for a day even if they are qualified and experienced. More stupid archaic union rules.
They can if the employee agrees… what they can’t do is make an ex-guard, now working on back room duties, go back onto the trains without their agreement unless it’s in their contract. So they can’t make people step into a safety critical role that is literally not their job without their agreement. Seem obvious to me why.
I heard on the radio yesterday that it wasn’t external agencies that they were trying to get in to cover work, it’s the movement of staff within the company to cover striking roles.
I'd not heard that. If thats the case then why are the government trying to change the law so they can use agency workers to cover strikers jobs? That is a very specific and significant change to a law thats been in place since the 70's. Surely if what you're saying was the desired outcome then they wouldn't need a change a law, just a change in terms and conditions? But thats not what they've said they want to do.
Sounds to me like they're just using it as an excuse to change the law across the board to free up all employers to be able to do what P&O just did?
A representative from the recruitment agencies was on saying that there is no way they’d want to get involved in providing workers to break picket lines, and they don’t need to anyway as they can’t get enough workers to fill the available positions they already have, so they certainly don’t need to be dragged into any political mither.
Bloke representing recruitment agencies on Radio 4 the other day said that there's already an unofficial agreement in place not to provide scabs to replace striking workers.
And what a breath of fresh air Mick Lynch is, a proper contrast to Laughing Len as pointed out so succinctly above.
His logical dismantling of Tory lies and bullshit is what we've needed for years now.
Why SKS can't do this is beyond comprehension.
Lynch even got a plaudit from old Etonian Hugh Laurie.
B2 you are James Goad. I claim my £5.
I’d not heard that. If thats the case then why are the government trying to change the law so they can use agency workers to cover strikers jobs.
That isn't about this dispute, mainly low payed unskilled jobs are the ones that can be quickly covered by agency staff. There are a lot more of people who are now going into working poverty because of rising costs. The tories need to take away the effectiveness of industrial action now before it gathers pace. The theoretical threat that you can be replaced easily, just lose days of pay without winning anything should be enough to keep them in their place, downtrodden and in constant fear. Psychological intimidation as government policy has always been at the heart of the tories policy.
Twas ever thus.
Never trust a Tory.
Anyone care to tell me the difference between Mick Lynch and Len McCluskey?
The obvious difference is related to each union's relationship with the Labour Party- Unite is affiliated to the Labour Party whilst RMT withdrew their affiliation a long time ago.
Consequently Unite pumps £millions into Labour's coffers and understandably expects value for money from that investment and for it to be used to achieve the union's aims and for the benefit of its members.
In contrast RMT has no vested interest in the Labour Party and couldn't give a monkeys about the internal politics of the party. A point which was made very clear when Wes Streeting publicly came out in support of the RMT only to be forced by Starmer to apologise and withdraw his support.
The RMT's reaction to that political summersault was to state that they weren't in the least bit bothered as the opinions of an organisation which they aren't even affiliated to is of no concern to them.
IMO time is overdue for the Unite to disaffiliate from the Labour Party, let Labour rely on the wealthy donors who Starmer treats with far more respect than he does the trade unions.
Why SKS can’t do this is beyond comprehension.
Because he has no interest in it. He's not on the side of rail workers or any other workers. He's on the side of the professional managerial classes who see themselves as the most important thing in our economy. These people won't challenge the higher echelons of the establishment because they want to be like them. Starmer with his knighthood and membership of the privy council is already one of them, so is hardly likely to want to rock the boat.
Yeah I don't think that the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service could really present himself as a straight talking anti-establishment figure in the way that a trade union leader might.
Maybe if the Labour Party had chosen someone with different credentials to be leader challenging the status quo might have been more realistic.
But today's Labour Party places its faith in establishment figures, preferably, it would appear based on their dominance within the party, lawyers. The sort of people who know what working people should vote for.
But today’s Labour Party places its faith in establishment figures, preferably, it would appear based on their dominance within the party, lawyers.
An old mate of mine used to be active in Lewisham CLP and all he ever went on about was how the labour party would be a much better place if they just got rid of all the lawyers within it. Can't say I disagree. I'd probably add anyone in a directorship position of anything other than a small business or voluntary organisation.
I think I’ll give BBCQT a watch tonight. Haven’t watched in a while but would be nice to see Lynch hand the panel’s arses to them on a plate. I can only imagine how the production company is loading the audience. 😀
Good call on catching tonight's QT
I've just seen Eddie Dempsey Assistant RMT General Secretary being interviewed by the BBC and imo he spoke even more eloquently than Mick Lynch has been recently.
He directly answered every question put to him and seamlessly went through each point knocking the nail on the head every time.
I genuinely can't remember the last time I heard anyone handle a political interview so effectively. Obviously the positions are well-rehearsed after majority decisions have been made, RMT officials are not making it up as they go along, but it is nevertheless impressive and is clearly driven by genuine belief and passion.
Why SKS can’t do this is beyond comprehension.
Because he has no interest in it. He’s not on the side of rail workers or any other workers. He’s on the side of the professional managerial classes who see themselves as the most important thing in our economy. These people won’t challenge the higher echelons of the establishment because they want to be like them. Starmer with his knighthood and membership of the privy council is already one of them, so is hardly likely to want to rock the boat.
Exactly. I've said this for 10 years plus to a Labour fanatic friend. It doesnt matter which party are in power, they do nothing for the low paid Workers, but do whatever it takes to keep rich people rich. They are the 'Establishment' and want to stay that way, whatever party they belong to. There are few politicians who keep their feet on the ground when they become MPS, most seem to think they are a step above 'normal' people and do as little as possible to help people. How many politicians turn down a knighthood or promotion to the Lords - very few, as they want to be the establishment, and do just a few little things to keep the plebs on their side. How many MPs voted against their latest ( and all previous) inflation busting payrises? Why didnt the minimum wage go up the same amount?
Unite and GMB union members of British Airways Heathrow voted to strike, dates to be announced, let's get the '22 season of discontent snowball rolling.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61906236
I’ve just had a look who Johnsons sacrificial lamb is on QT tonight. I had to look her up as I’d never heard of her… Rachel Maclean. Who?
I gather the cabinet, even down to the most junior bag-carrier, are all presently hiding in a fridge with Boris
How can 1 person in a vehicle be cheaper than 1000 people sharing one to a destination?
Because each car get thousands of pounds worth of subsidy a year. The subsidy to private motorists is an order of magnitude greater that trains. Reverse the situation and train fairs go down and the far too cheap costs of cars goes up dramatically
Apparantely at present they aren’t allowed to get someone sitting in a office to cover an operational role for a day even if they are qualified and experienced. More stupid archaic union rules.
As someone who has worked on the railways, it really wouldn't make sense for someone to come out of an office and take an operational role. It would be dangerous not an archaic rule but a sensible one.
As Mick Lynch said Labour have underrepresented the working class leaving gaps for the populists.
I like how the media just don't have to tools to deal with him.
Love it.
As someone who has worked on the railways, it really wouldn’t make sense for someone to come out of an office and take an operational role. It would be dangerous not an archaic rule but a sensible one.
Completely agree. Bear in mind that you need train drivers trained on routes with continuous experience of said route to be allowed to drive it. If that experience lapses then they need to retrain on it before being allowed to drive it alone again. This has been an issue post-Covid as lots of drivers lost said experience and needed to relearn routes (have a look at the January timetable to see service reductions directly as a result of this).
So there’s not a cat in hells chance of someone in a back office job dusting off his or her drivers hat and “giving it a go” at driving the 9.26 from Cleethorpes.
Apparantely at present they aren’t allowed to get someone sitting in a office to cover an operational role for a day even if they are qualified and experienced. More stupid archaic union rules.
I am curious as to which radio station you are listening to since it seems rather confused.
There are no laws that I am aware of which would prevent that happening and I recall in the royal mail staff (primarily managers) providing cover during a strike.
Since the recruitment body and the TUC all reference a specific law regarding agency workers I would go with that being the case.
Although I grant that a union would be opposed to staff being reroled since to cover a strike but I wouldnt really consider that archaic but just practical.
Train drivers are part of a different union
There appears to be a debate concerning which is the most ironic quote from Lynch so far in this dispute.
It has been suggested that it's "I don't even know who you are", although for me it's "He's the most evil puppet made out of vinyl in the world" remark made to Piers Morgan.
Apparently searches for “join union” on Google have increased by 184 per cent since the rail workers dispute started, according to an analysis by Workello.
He's on QT tonight. If it hasn't already been flagged.
He’s just had the audience laughing at the Tory rep…
Rachel MacLean has the expression of someone who's finger has just gone through the toilet paper.
Who is the woman in the green jacket who is just pulling funny faces?
The Tory rep. Dept for transport apparently.
As a Scotrail driver and member of ASLEF , and bear in mind we have just been balloted for our deal . It was always the case that the RMT ,TSSA and Unison always piggy backed our deals as we were always the strongest railway union as we are alll drivers. That said Mick Lynch is amazing and good on him for him the way he is fighting for the other railway grades. Dont believe the Tory BS about average Rail wages being 43k as It's total nonsense. It's closer to 31k which is still a good wage but why are they not entitled to try and get a wage closer to inflation.
For anyone thinking train drivers are over payed just bear in mind the training , shit hours (3.05 start times If on backshift finish at 2.30) , 1 week end off in 3 , shite turn around in hours ( Can finish at 5 am sunday and start at 6 am monday and that is classed as a day off) not to mention the responsibilty with 700 people on most rush hour trains in big citys , If we **** up wee go to jail not the dole queue.
The other thing that has struck me as a scary thing is the fact that on social media whilst 80 percent of people are behind us , 20 percents are of the '55k , I only make 20 grand doing 'X' duty'
^ The point is if the rail workers get 5 percent , everyone has to get 5 percent. As no job is more important than any other and it Is still 4 percent less than inflation.
Rail workers , Bus drivers ,Cleaners , Teachers , firemen , the working man fight the power.....
The audience clapping lower standards and wages for themselves.
She's the Tory who suggested recently that if people were struggling to feed their families and heat their homes they should get a better job or work more hours.
She’s a ****ing idiot, that much is clear.
For anyone thinking train drivers are over payed just bear in mind the training , shit hours (3.05 start times If on backshift finish at 2.30) , 1 week end off in 3 , shite turn around in hours ( Can finish at 5 am sunday and start at 6 am monday and that is classed as a day off)
Ever thought about freight driving? My stepson drives for Freightliner & although he does shifts he does nowt like that.
There again, he’s only on about 55K, which is 22K more than a basic grade prison officer. (My old job, don’t even get me started on what that bastard Grayling did to HMPS)
Green Tory lady did at least sneakily admit how else does the government get out of the pandemic without government spending. She let that slip.
An admission the market can't function without the state, especially in black swan events.
Business Brexit Party chap is about 50% correct in sentiment, but doesn't understand anything about tax and spend/government borrowing. Wonder if his staff embraced furlough?
Thinks the only route to success is tax cuts. Just like thicko Tice.
Lynch missed a goal when he failed to point out the problems created by privatisation, the franchise system, and the multitude of different companies it created within the railways.
It took the ticket office RMT member to make the point. I got the feeling that Lynch didn't want to be too hostile towards a member of the public/audience.
I do like how he doesn't let go when he pierces an opponent's defense though eg when he kept repeating "it doesn't say what you said it says".
And that woman with big hair is why there's always a hardcore of Tories willing to never give in.
got the feeling that Lynch didn’t want to be too hostile towards a member of the public/audience.
Yeah. He can't kick back the same as he does with a media pundit.
he’s only on about 55K,
Only 60% more than the National average full time salary? Why’s he not striking?
when he kept repeating “it doesn’t say what you said it says”.
And he was absolutely right - she read out verbatim the part of that letter that completely contradicted her claims 😀
Never mind Newcastle I think the people of Stratford-on-Avon (apart from the railway worker obvs) need to be put up against a wall and shot.
I thought the food bank lady was exceptionally good.
