should the government be ashamed

HousePlantQueen

I think the government have read this very wrong, and Steve Barclay should be ashamed of himself for his statements about deaths being the fault of striking workers. The NHS staff members who are on strike, be they paramedics, nurses, or emergency call handlers, are striking for the future of the NHS, for our safety. Any minister claiming that the strikes are causing harm, causing dangerous hold ups, is dangerously our of touch; these things have been happening everywhere for weeks and weeks. The spokesmen on picket lines this morning said they would leave for a high risk call, deal with it, then go back to the picket, and also that they would all mobilise for a major emergency such as a motorway pile up. Different attitude to the intransigent government. The Tories are reading this very badly indeed if they think that they, and their paid propagandists, the press, can turn the public against paramedics and nurses.

Yes, and if the government pushes this to the limit, we, as a country, must remain firm and United with the strikers.

I think the government have read this very wrong, and Steve Barclay should be ashamed of himself for his statements about deaths being the fault of striking workers. The NHS staff members who are on strike, be they paramedics, nurses, or emergency call handlers, are striking for the future of the NHS, for our safety. Any minister claiming that the strikes are causing harm, causing dangerous hold ups, is dangerously our of touch; these things have been happening everywhere for weeks and weeks. The spokesmen on picket lines this morning said they would leave for a high risk call, deal with it, then go back to the picket, and also that they would all mobilise for a major emergency such as a motorway pile up. Different attitude to the intransigent government. The Tories are reading this very badly indeed if they think that they, and their paid propagandists, the press, can turn the public against paramedics and nurses.

Out of interest, I thought I'd look up the precise definition of shame in the Oxford Dictionary. It is 1. a feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behaviour. 2. dishonour- a person or thing bringing dishonour. So, yes, they should be ashamed for the way they have behaved for the past 12 years but the consciousness aspect seems to be missing.

Ok what do the nhs staff do because they tried ‘everything else’ and the government took no notice. The government is responsible

GagaJo

nadateturbe

Yes, the government is useless. I do sympathise with all those wanting a decent pay rise, but the NHS strike was timed to have maximum effect. Just wrong.

But of course it was. That is logical. It needs to have maximum effect to create maximum noise in the media. Maximum pressure on the government.

Normally I would agree. Best to have maximum effect. I was union rep at work and a strong believer in unions.
But not when dealing with people's health and lives.
People are coping with too much right now so there's no point in unions claiming they are doing this for the patients.
This imo is the wrong time to strike.
Unions need to think of a way we can support health workers to achieve their aims.
We actually need to unite to do more to make the government listen to and address all our concerns. .

I think it's "some in, some out" MaizieD. But happy to be corrected.

But Unite and Unison accepted the offer "for now" so its still in the Government's court. But at least they are talking to the nurses' unions.

So where does that leave the Scottish nurses, then volver?

Some 'in', some 'out' ?

Or just all of them on strike after all?

Jaxjacky

Nurses in Scotland are now striking in the New Year after rejecting their pay offer. Seems the UK as a whole will be struggling.

RCN members have turned down the offer.

Unite and Unison have accepted the offer.

Hetty58

Dibbydod, no, we're not all in the same boat - we're in various different boats. Nurses have had a decreasing income (in real terms) for over a decade. They need their wages restored to pre 2010 levels. That's not even a pay rise, is it?

Meanwhile carers keep working with little appreciation and certainly no pay rise… But are seldom mentioned anywhere…🤷‍♀️(Minimum wage)

L1247

I haven't posted on here before but do read posts. I'm really heartened to see so many people are still supporting the strikers. Especially the NHS workers. The govt is intent on privatising the NHS. We are being taken for fools but the govt has underestimated us.

👍

Nurses in Scotland are now striking in the New Year after rejecting their pay offer. Seems the UK as a whole will be struggling.

I haven't posted on here before but do read posts. I'm really heartened to see so many people are still supporting the strikers. Especially the NHS workers. The govt is intent on privatising the NHS. We are being taken for fools but the govt has underestimated us.

Feeling helpless about how our government knows people are struggling in so many ways but do nothing, not even talk to those on strike. To allow energy companies to keep billions of profit must be stopped. Can't see the sense of it. Do they know the meaning of ashamed?

MaizieD that’s about now isn’t it?

nadateturbe

Yes, the government is useless. I do sympathise with all those wanting a decent pay rise, but the NHS strike was timed to have maximum effect. Just wrong.

Not a lot of point in striking when it won't have any effect, nadateturbe. Can you suggest what would have been a more suitable time? When there are so few nurses and ward staff left (having all gone to better paid jobs) that hospitals can't function any more, perhaps?

nadateturbe

Yes, the government is useless. I do sympathise with all those wanting a decent pay rise, but the NHS strike was timed to have maximum effect. Just wrong.

But of course it was. That is logical. It needs to have maximum effect to create maximum noise in the media. Maximum pressure on the government.

Yes, the government is useless. I do sympathise with all those wanting a decent pay rise, but the NHS strike was timed to have maximum effect. Just wrong.

Sorry GrannyGravy13 see that you beat me to it😄

Of course the government should be ashamed but they will as usual blame everyone else. Its never their fault for anything that goes wrong.

MaizieD

Just a wee reminder that the train drivers aren't on strike, Oreo. They are ASLEF. RMT is railway workers; station staff, track maintenance, guards etc. Not drivers.

ASLEF workers are on strike around the 5th Jan so not long to wait!

It’s the government telling us to put our lives on hold. All part of it’s campaign to avoid any responsibility for the mess it’s created

As for not driving etc. today, how ridiculous.

Some are not able to put their lives on hold due to these strikes, myself and DH included. We have a 2-3 hour drive home later today.

MaizieD

Just a wee reminder that the train drivers aren't on strike, Oreo. They are ASLEF. RMT is railway workers; station staff, track maintenance, guards etc. Not drivers.

ASLEF are on strike on 5/01/23 announced yesterday.

Give this new administration a chance

The conservatives have had 12 years to run down all our public services. Wages have effectively been cut, terms and conditions in the nhs steadily eroded. Nurses get into debt to train, then earn less per hour than government ministers pay their gardener or dog Walker.

The state of all our public services is a national shame.

Yes the government should hang its head in shame. Its beginning to seem that the majority are recognising the gaslighting the government uses in an attempt to shift blame onto nurses and paramedics.

Agree Wyllow3 especially your final paragraph regarding decent public services in Europe through their taxes. An anathema to this government sadly.