EU - in or out?

Over 50% of them voted to strike. In fact I think it was over 80% of those who bothered to reply.
For a union to call a strike there are very strict rules. They have to have a postal vote of all eligible members. If the rest of them did not want to strike, all they had to do was send in their votes. They were quite happy to go along with the majority, even if it was a majority of the 27% who replied.
The fact that it has taken two years from that vote shows that the union was willing to negotiate. Unfortunately the government wasn't.
Sorry, gillybob, but teachers are not childminders.
They are just very frustrated with this government.

What about parents who can't rely on GPs to step in and help?
I was a TU member but never actually went on strike.

A digression, back to the OP

Despite such a low union turnout for the strike vote - any comments, durhamjen?

Exactly rosequartz this Thursday will be the third school day my grandchildren have missed this year due to the school not being open when it should have been two days of which were teachers strikes ! How dare they preach about parents taking their children out of school!

ttip2014.eu/

A green party member from Austria is the vice president of the European Parliament now.
A woman, as well!
The Green party is having discussions with Juncker.

Which isn't very likely, let's face it.

My point was that the TTIP is more important than the EU. If the TTIP gets passed, it will not matter whether we are in the EU or not. Once the TTIP gets agreement, there will be no going back. There will be no point in a vote on whether we stay in the EU or not.
The TTIP negotiations will be over before we get a vote on the EU.
All parties in the UK want the TTIP, apart from the Green Party and the NHAP. TTIP overrides any EU agreements. For example, if we are out of the EU and decide we do not want GM, Monsanto will be able to sue the government for loss of profits. It will be able to do this even if we are in, unless the Green group in the EU gets changes to the TTIP.

'The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a trade agreement that is presently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States.'

So how exactly would staying IN the EU benefit the UK in that respect, durhamjen? Surely it would make more sense to get OUT?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1RpGGFA4EQ

This is for all of you who want out of the EU. You should be thinking of what the TTIP will do to our sovereignty.
At least we can find out about the EU and possibly have a vote. If the TTIP gets accepted, we will have no control over lots of things.

Those who have businesses, which are you more worried about, the EU or the TTIP?

I have a daughter in law who is Spanish, and another who is Danish. Do I say to them that I do not think they are as important as I am in my grandchildren's lives? Do I say that only the UK matters? Or should I say that we are all Europeans and their culture is just as important to me and my family.
My ex daughter in law is half Norwegian and half American.
I have learnt a lot from all of them and their families about how people can live together, and about their different customs, all of which are as valuable as UK ones.
I think gut feeling is as valuable. After all, we all vote for MPs on what we believe, and what the experts tell us, and look where that got us!
Eloethan, I think we are not supposed to want to know about the TTIP.
How many people on here have actually read up about what it will mean to the EU? It'll be too late for the referendum, we will already be part of the TTIP. And we will have lost our NHS.

I like the idea of Europe co-operating over all sorts of things, but what does worry me and I think that this is the biggest beef with most people is that democracy seems to be in very short supply and without that the European Governing body does not really have any legitimacy and this will eventually be its downfall unless they change. One of the biggest problems for me is Germany's ability to call the shots, not Germany in particular but any country having too much say seems not in the spirit of the original Treatise.

However I don't think at the moment that that would encourage me to vote No to Europe - I would like to think that there are channels through which the voters could make our worries clear, and to promote change.
Our politicians constantly make a dogs dinner of trying to change things and are inclined to grandstand for those at home, so I have little faith in them.

Thanks mishap

The book is called "Au Revoir Europe: What if Britain left the EU" - by David Charter. It's quite heavy going!

Yes we do have to concentrate on what we can get out of it. Of course we do. No room for sentiment in the world of a country's economy. We need to look after our own.

Little Englander........ Yes, and proud of it. But how many of you have visited nearly every country in Europe, I have. Never got as far as Finland.
Albania was interesting!
To me, it's only people who feel that they need the 'protection' of a club that are afraid to go out on their own. I don't need an antiquated museum ( Nigel Ferages words ) to lead me. I'm strong enough on my own and I like to think my country is.

That's what I feel Henetha. How will people be able to decide on such a complex issue without proper analysis of how the EU works, what benefits and what disadvantages there are, discussion as to how it could be made more accountable, etc., etc. And I don't think we should only focus on what we can get out of it - if we are part of a group, surely we should consider how standards can be improved for everybody in that group.

It seems to me that if there is a referendum people will be voting on "gut feeling" rather than on any real knowledge of these matters and of the implications for remaining in or leaving the EU.

I don't see Cameron's recent performance has been a great success. Most of the other members were pretty unimpressed, knowing that it was a fairly pointless way of "grandstanding" for the benefit of the Euro-sceptics in his own party.

What's the book Mishap? I should be reading it too.

Out out out..... I think. But I feel that we need more information about exactly how the EU works for us. A series of television programmes, not hosted by politicians, is vital before the referendum.

And this is why I am studying this book, as I feel so ignorant about it all.

The lack of interest in the EU is very worrying when such huge quantities if cash are poured into it. Control over the use of those funds appears to be somewhat lax.

How many of that 27% voted yes I wonder? Democracy in action (?)
Ps do not dare take your child out of school for an unauthorised holiday - you will be fined! Where does the money from fines go incidentally? Back into the school budget?

I think I heard something about a minimum turnout clause re the EU referendum.

'Cameron could make it dependent on a certain turnout. After all, that's what unions do.' Do they, durhamjen?

Why is it then that the NUT are set to walk out on Thursday, backed by three other public sector unions? The NUT’s action alone will cause disruption to huge numbers of parents and cost kids a day of education, all on the basis of a ballot held two years ago with a turnout of only 27%.

Good post, Eloethan.

I for one have very little idea about what is going on in the EU until something happens which has repercussions for the UK. It just seems to me too cumbersome and difficult to weld together such diverse nations and to administer an ever-growing group of member nations. It started off with good intentions and has grow'd like Topsy.

Tired brain last night, I meant if 51% of that 35% vote no, which could result in about 18% of the population voting to take us out. Scary thought.
But I hope you know what I meant and a mathemetician could work it out more precisely.