Going on Strike

I still maintain there is far too much protection for strikers in terms of protection from the consequences of their actions. No risk to employment and no liabilities for consequences no matter how unreasonable or unjustified their demands are.

Of course theres a risk to employment. When you go out on strike you break your contract with the company and its normally standard practice that the company then gives those people the sack. Its then part of the negotiations that those people are reinstated. Also of the prioceedure for strike action isnt followed to the letter i.e. 30 days notice before strike action and such then the union can be taken to court by the company and prosecuted.
 
There's not too long left for the RM as it is now anyway. I've just started working for the company that has implemented the Downstream access system to allow real competition. I've also heard TNT and another courier are beginning to lay down comprehensive networks that will allow RM style door to door delivery.
 
Anyone noticed how there are a lot of people going on strike recently?

Apparently the Royal Mail people are going on strike in London and Edinburgh. This is about the 5th time at least this year they have gone on strike up here.

Also the bin men up in some parts of Edinburgh have been on a strike/go slow for a few weeks now, not too sure about elsewhere.

Just wondering why people think it is ok to go on strike for better wages/holidays/pensions or whatever when 10000s of people are being made redundant all the time during this recession.

Is there anything employers can do when workers go on strike, like fire them or something? I am sure a lot of people who are currently unemployed through redundancies would be happy to have a job at this time and think its insulting that people can go on strike for more things. At least they have jobs.

I have seen a few places going on strike due to not getting a payrise, at least they get some, in the place I used to work I didnt get a payrise for the 3 years I was there (apart from when I was promoted!)

Anyone here who is redundant getting annoyed with people going on strike?
YOU ARE NIAVE
 
I think so - every manager I've known who walks has been replaced by someone at a similar level of competence fairly quickly.

I was thinking senior management, not floor level management. Even in most huge companies, there are only about 5-15 people at this sort of level, and they aren't replaced so easily. To me, most low level management isn't really any different to straight workers in terms of influence and value.

However, I do think it's good that Royal Mail are applying the freeze across the board, although the company I work for in the past did even better, the management forfieted their bonuses and rises so the staff could have them guaranteed.
 
YOU ARE NIAVE

What a convincing and well thought out rebuttal...

I mean, I know you think intimidation of strike breakers and bullying of staff by union members is acceptable, and therefore will obviously support the staff striking no matter how ludicrous their request, but surely you could do better than that...
 
I still maintain there is far too much protection for strikers in terms of protection from the consequences of their actions. No risk to employment and no liabilities for consequences no matter how unreasonable or unjustified their demands are.

There needs to be a change to make unions/union members potentially liable for the costs of their strikes if their demands are determined unreasonable or unrealistic by a court (likewise for employers).
I knew you'd be here in this thread from the off.

Tell me, how do you know which keys to hit on the keyboard to type these posts when your head is so far up managements ass?
 
Of course theres a risk to employment. When you go out on strike you break your contract with the company and its normally standard practice that the company then gives those people the sack. Its then part of the negotiations that those people are reinstated. Also of the prioceedure for strike action isnt followed to the letter i.e. 30 days notice before strike action and such then the union can be taken to court by the company and prosecuted.

You can't sack someone in the UK for taking part in a correctly organised strike. You can sack them for wildcat or unapproved action.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/TradeUnions/Industrialaction/DG_179248

There are plenty of examples where strikes have been called because people have been sacked, and one of the conditions has been the reinstatement of the employees, but that's different.
 
Are management as easy to replace if they walk? (This is a serious question btw).

Everyone should feel the pain, but that doesn't mean everyone must be treated exactly the same.
Jesus Christ, you seriously don't know Royal Mail management do you? There are so many tiers of people doing "nothing".

We had a bunch of them at our place the other week and just to look at them I stood in bemusement asking myself what they actually had to do all day?

These people aren't super talented super humans you know? RM management is a downward flow of yes men and bullies. If anyone dares to say "no", or "can't" then theres always someone else.

From the shop floor upwards they are a drain of resources that, if they were cut by 2/3's the buisness wouldn't suffer in the slightest.

And that is a serious answer to your serious question.
 
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I knew you'd be here in this thread from the off.

Tell me, how do you know which keys to hit on the keyboard to type these posts when your head is so far up managements ass?

Is that any differant to the likes of you who seem to thinking striking is the answer to every possibly problem in the work place? The kind of people who never think of the effect they have on industry or other peoples lives because of these strikes and blatantly insult people taking pay cuts and being layed off?

Isn't this a fun way of arguing? making completely uninformed snipes at each other? So much EASIER than actualy thinking about it.
 
I agree. I often wonder if it is the workers themselves that call upon their union or the union getting in there so to speak.

There is currently a dispute going in with a turbine company whereby staff staged a wildcat strike, they occupied part of the building, were warned that if it carried on they would be sacked, they carried on the dispute and thus were sacked.

I think the sit is still taking place, the union is now crying about the sacked workers human rights being violated because the company in question in their opinion is not providing food for the sacked staff.

I also believe the company obtained a court order stating that the former staff had to leave, I am not sure if the have though yet.
An illegal strike is dangerous ground for anyone taking part, if it's done through the correct channels then more power to their arm. Think hard before going down the unofficial IA route, it'll end in tears.
 
I knew you'd be here in this thread from the off.

Tell me, how do you know which keys to hit on the keyboard to type these posts when your head is so far up managements ass?

Another high quality and convincing rebuttal (but the answer is the J and F keys have ridges so you can identify them ;))

Perhaps you could tell me how you have managed to get such a terrible relationship with employers generally? Which part of your performance or attitude do you fail to take responsibility for in the work place?

I've never felt the need to strike, I work hard and have that hard work recognised in the workplace with appropriate rewards/responsibilities.
 
Jesus Christ, you seriously don't know Royal Mail management do you? There are so many tiers of people doing "nothing".

Fine, sack them then, if they serve no productive purpose, get rid of them.

We had a bunch of them at our place the other week and just to look at them I stood in bemusement asking myself what they actually had to do all day?

Like I said, if they aren't providing a business benefit, get rid of them. I'm not someone who argues just for unproductive or unnecessary workers to get sacked, the exact same applies to management as well.

These people aren't super talented super humans you know? RM management is a downward flow of yes men and bullies. If anyone dares to so "no", or "can't" then theres always someone else.

From the shop floor upwards they are a drain of resources that, if they were cut by 2/3's the buisness wouldn't suffer in the slightest.

And that is a serious answer to your serious question.

And my serious answer is to get rid of them then. Downsize the lot of them if they aren't doing anything useful or constructive to help the business. It might even make things better for the frontline staff in the process.
 
There's not too long left for the RM as it is now anyway. I've just started working for the company that has implemented the Downstream access system to allow real competition. I've also heard TNT and another courier are beginning to lay down comprehensive networks that will allow RM style door to door delivery.
DA has been in place for the best part of the last decade, I believe that it has ruined Royal Mail.

Before the monopoly was lifted RM used to make vast profits, I think at one time they were handing £1M a day back to the treasury. The profits also went across the group and subsidised loss making sub post offices, which now have closed as quickly as pubs leaving the general public up in arms.

There was a time when it was a great industry and this government is to blame for ruining it, so your first sentence may well be right.
 
What a convincing and well thought out rebuttal...

I mean, I know you think intimidation of strike breakers and bullying of staff by union members is acceptable, and therefore will obviously support the staff striking no matter how ludicrous their request, but surely you could do better than that...
Thats not a rebuttal Dolph, everything in that original post is niave.

Theres only one set of bullies in RM and they come in in shirts and ties in the morning.
 
In teh grand scheme of things it depends entirely on the scenario. Tarring all strikers with the same brush is silly. A lot of corporations are using the current economic climate to their advantage and instead of taking the inches to remain viable, some are taking miles and eroding employees terms and conditions moreso than required under the guise of "OMG recession".

Some strikes are justified regardless of whatever else may be happening elsewhere. If you are a valuable asset to your company and are not easily replaceable, should your company take advantage of you unfairly then fair play to you for going on strike.
 
Is that any differant to the likes of you who seem to thinking striking is the answer to every possibly problem in the work place? The kind of people who never think of the effect they have on industry or other peoples lives because of these strikes and blatantly insult people taking pay cuts and being layed off?

Isn't this a fun way of arguing? making completely uninformed snipes at each other? So much EASIER than actualy thinking about it.
I don't think that at all Fenris.

When you work with a company that is always going back on agreements you'd soon learn to loathe them and disrupt them when and where possible.
 
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