Heading towards a general strike?

Yes, you do but a good proportion of the voting public may disagree.

You need more than charisma to be a nation’s leader.

You need integrity, steadiness, reliability and intelligence.

The end of the tether has been reached

When it was reached in 1978/79 Margaret Thatcher was more than ready. Like her or loathe her, the speeches she gave were impassioned and inspired many to vote Tory for the first time. Perhaps some didn't think of the ultimate consequences of her policies, they were sick and tired of the status quo and just wanted change.

Perhaps Keir Starmer lacks the charisma so he will have to rely on the fact that he would be a steady and reliable PM to steer us through the crises.

GrannyGravy13

I think the last thing the U.K. needs at the moment is a general strike.

... the "UK" is not a homogenous group.

And a general strike is never a desirable outcome is it?

But things cannot go on as they are. If people working full-time were just about managing to put food on the table and pay their bills, but are now in the position where they simply and literally cannot afford to do both - what do you expect them to do? If the ever-increasing cost of living is so punitive, do you really think they should just suck it up, continue to accept that BP etc are making unprecedented profits, while they continue to cut, cut - and cut some more from their weekly food shop to the point where they're not able to eat enough to sustain them to even go to work?

The government have it within their remit to help those who are really struggling. It won't suit their ideology, they would have to do it through gritted teeth because it goes against their free-market ideology, and they loath giving "handouts", but people cannot live below subsistence level - they cannot go home to an empty food cupboard and a cold house (possibly, in winter, very cold - even damp) indefinitely whilst they wait for the markets to re-balance themselves, for businesses to "grow", or wait for the 'trickle-down' effect.

No, a general strike is not good, but the mere fact that we are now looking at one in a nation that is normally mostly compliant, that moans and whinges but doesn't normally galvanise itself into any action to combat the things it complains about, should surely tell you that we have reached a critical stage, a stage where some simply will find that their income - no matter how "hard" they work, will not cover their outgoings.

The government have options to mitigate the effects of this cost of living crisis, to some extent at least. I for one will support a general strike - because it's the only way this current government will understand that people have had enough... years of Austerity, and now this. Government can still be fiscally 'responsible' and, at the same time, alleviate the very real suffering that some are experiencing. There is wealth - we are still a wealthy country. How much longer do you expect the low-paid to watch their income shrivel whilst those at the top get ever bigger payouts, bonuses - whilst BP reports it highest profits for eight years, etc, etc, bloody, etc?

We've reached a point of no-return. There will be riots, civil disobedience, strikes, economic instability. You can only supress people for a period of time before they retaliate. We're a tolerant nation in terms of what we're prepared to put up with economically, we've accepted the dwindling services in the Care sector, Dentistry, the NHS, etc, we've accepted the former increases in the cost of living. But the shocking increase in fuel and energy prices is now unacceptable. The end of the tether has been reached.

apolgies for format failure. I should have previewed.

^ I hope Starmer is ready, but more than that I am scared that we are ripe for more sinister forces to take advantage of the dire straits the Tories have got us into. The media rubbish the opposition, and history has shown what can happen when people are desperate and someone promises to get the trains running on time.^

That is partly my worry, too, Doodledog, though not specifically fascism. Just any sort of populist uprising. History tells us that that would be far more unpleasant than a winter of discontent...

I can understand that, Skomer, although that is the full-time rate. There is a cheaper rate for people who work less than 20 hours a week. Those who do make the sacrifice, however, are often annoyed when pay rises and all the other things that unions fight for are awarded to non-members too. It does seem like they want a free ride.

Callustemon I hope Starmer is ready, but more than that I am scared that we are ripe for more sinister forces to take advantage of the dire straits the Tories have got us into. The media rubbish the opposition, and history has shown what can happen when people are desperate and someone promises to get the trains running on time.

An awful lot of us on minimum wage cannot afford the just under £15.00 monthly GMB subscription fees.
Just wanted to give another reason why some may not be able to join a union

Fleurpepper

Certainly a massive winter of discontment.

The last time we had a Winter of Discontent it did cause a lot of hardship. There was chaos which the then PM would not acknowledge. It was a very hard, cold winter.

The SNP withdrew its support for the Government, there was a vote of no confidence in the Government which they lost and there was subsequently a GE which resulted in a victory for the Opposition.

If there are strikes and a cold winter combined with the huge rise in fuel prices then history could repeat itself.

Is Starmer ready?

GrannyGravy13

I think the last thing the U.K. needs at the moment is a general strike.

You might think it's thevlast thingbthe UK needs but I think it's very much on the cards and people had better brace themselves for it.

There are a great many fed up and unhappy people out there whose standard of life has diminished over the last 12 years of tory government because of pay freezes, who see big pay increases and bonuses at the top end of the hierarchy and companies making big profits from their work which they are not getting a share of. athey see a looming severe cost of living crisis and a government apparently unwilling to do anything to help those who will be badly affected (which could be as much as 50% oof the population). They see the NHS falling apart to the apparent indifference of the government and they see the adverse effects of a botched Brexit. Perhaps even begin to realise how badly they've been lied to to induce them to vote for Brexit.

At some point we could reach a critical mass of angry and disaffected people who will be too much for the government to control...

Glorianny

Germanshepherdsmum

No, Glorianny, a general strike would not be ‘great’. A lot of people would suffer in many ways.

A lot of people are suffering already. Why is it OK to keep workers on inadequate wages, whilst making huge profits, but not to withdraw your labour?

Agreed.

Also, I asked upthread how people who don't approve of strikes would advise someone on minimum wage who works full time and can't pay their bills, but no answer so far. I'll add another question - if people are not allowed to strike, what does that do to the relationship between employers and staff? Master and servant? Is that going to make for good industrial relations? How would you compel people to work if striking were illegal?

Germanshepherdsmum

So you’re happy for there to be even more suffering?

I don't like to see anyone suffer, but when the alternative is a return to conditions workers haven't endured since the 1930s I think a period of short suffering which leads to more job security, better pay and conditions and a decent living wage is preferable to unending years of grinding poverty.

So you’re happy for there to be even more suffering?

Germanshepherdsmum

No, Glorianny, a general strike would not be ‘great’. A lot of people would suffer in many ways.

A lot of people are suffering already. Why is it OK to keep workers on inadequate wages, whilst making huge profits, but not to withdraw your labour?

Shinamae

LizzieDrip

It is precisely because people such as OP are being exploited by private bosses that the big, powerful unions need to strike - they are doing it to support ALL workers. In 2022 an employee should not be blackmailed by her boss and threatened with losing her job simply because she stands up for her rights. We aren’t living in Dickensian Britain (although, I do wonder at times).

Good lord how often do I have to say it? I am neither being blackmailed or threatened by the owner of my care home!!

well in that case, why don't you join a union?

m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1408402296337012¬if_t=watch_follower_video¬if_id=1660768932391147&ref=m_notif
Nationalise railways. A few good reasons

Grantanow

Of course Johnson lied about fixing social care. What do you expect from a Tory? They simply don't care.

The plan was to pay for fixing social care was by raising NI rates and only after extra money had gone to the NHS.
This NI increased amounts only came into force this financial year. How quickly would you expect this to have an effect months ?

Of course Johnson lied about fixing social care. What do you expect from a Tory? They simply don't care.

It’s possible to earn a much higher rate as a carer working for an agency.

Care home owners, whether individuals or the awful big groups, are only focused on profit and lining their pockets. They know the best staff are too kind and compassionate to leave them in the lurch just because they’re grossly underpaid. It stinks.

GrannyGravy13

I think the last thing the U.K. needs at the moment is a general strike.

Especially if it works as well as the present strikes by transport workers

I don't know how workers can get through to this government without taking some sort of drastic action. They (the government, such as it is) have taken an arrogant and dismissive attitude to the population, and noting I have seen about Truss suggests that she will be any different from her predecessor.

Nobody gos on strike lightly, but what else can people do, unless they are prepared to keep working but getting poorer and poorer whilst companies are making higher and higher profits on their backs?

Those who do not advocate striking - what advice would you give to someone working a 40 hour week on minimum wage who is frightened of the future?

I think the last thing the U.K. needs at the moment is a general strike.

Certainly a massive winter of discontment.

HE has NOT said any such thing,it is the consensus of the management..

Why have the management concluded that the owner would close down if the staff were union members ? Logic dictates that they must have broached the subject with him.

Unions are not just there to for more pay. That is a very narrow minded view of what they are about.

The fact that the railway workers earn more than average does not mean that they have less right to strike than those on less, and the fact that some groups have no real ability to strike does not mean that those who do have that ability should not.

Shinamae, it is difficult to tell what you are asking in your OP. Many people, including me, have misunderstood what you are getting at, and you seem frustrated when people keep getting it wrong, so it might make sense if you explain your point of view again?