Heading towards a general strike?

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t think we can blame the government for the re-emergence of traces of polio in sewage. The thinking is that it has been introduced from abroad, maybe by people who have had ‘live’ vaccines which we don’t do here. At least it’s been detected and a vaccination programme is underway in the affected areas.

I don't think anyone would be overly concerned about the emergence of traces of polio in sewage if raw sewage wasn't being prolifically discharged into our seas and rivers. For which, I think, we can blame the government for not doing anything to stop the water companies doing it.

Not only have they actually loosened the regulations but, the Environment Agency has suffered swingeing cuts over the past 12 years and don't have the staff to investigate all breaches or the money to prosecute offenders. This is small state in action...

Sorry to disagree but the presence of polio in the sewage is indicative of its presence amongst the population.

Germanshepherdsmum

Sorry to disagree but the presence of polio in the sewage is indicative of its presence amongst the population.

I agree with you about that, but my point is that it should get no further than the sewage treatment plant, not be allowed to be discharged into rivers and seas where it could endanger the wider population. (Is it actually waterborne?)

The Public Health authorities are acting. I understand they're offering polio vaccination, and they must surely be trying to trace the source of the contamination. But how can they effectively contain it if it's allowed to run riot in our waters?

I agree that the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea or inland waterways is unacceptable.

Germanshepherdsmum

I agree that the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea or inland waterways is unacceptable.

Aaaah.

But will you agree that the government has to take some of the blame because of poor regulation and cuts to the Environment Agency?

A GP has stated on twitter that his first question to anyone presenting with d&v, urine infection, eye infection, ear infection is to ask if they have been swimming in the sea or waterways. E.coli is rife and present in rivers at hundreds of times over EU maximum levels. Another Brexit bonus eh?

Polio can be waterborne and so discovering it in sewage, especially in the UK where at the moment sewage is regularly discharged into our waterways with no consequence for the privatised water companies is a huge concern. Yes we can blame the government for this- they should have taken much stricter measures and ensured the regulations were adhered to, not just overriding the regulations for the sake of profits.

Indeed I will Maizie, though I must say that during many years of dealing with the EA and it’s predecessors in my professional life I found their staff pretty useless.

The Great Depression of the 1930s bore a lot of similarities to what we are experiencing today. It was only WW2 that diverted a massive uprising of the working class then.

If the workers at Felixtowe port strike continues it will cause a lot of disruption because container ships rely on being loaded and unloaded on schedule.
No comparison with the 1930s although there will be a lot of strikes this winter, an unpopular PM will not help.

Breaking news. Criminal barristers in England and Wales vote to go on all-out strike. BBC.

Barristers have voted to go on an indefinite, uninterrupted strike in England and Wales from next month.

The walkout by members of the Criminal Bar Association will begin on 5 September.

I support the barristers' strike. Legal Aid rates are shockingly low.

I don't support the dock workers' strike. Unite refuses to put the offered increase to its members - whilst members of the port staff union have accepted the same offer.

I have just heard on the radio that young barristers are leaving the profession. What do they go on to do? Can they be solicitors instead?

Interesting comment on tv news just now that with our shortage of labour here we will end up like the Brits with Brexit! We sent a lot of migrants home because of Covid and they have not returned - don’t blame them really.

No, they can’t just become solicitors. Maybe some are simply stopping doing criminal work and specialising in other areas of law instead. Years ago I had a barrister friend who did criminal work - horrible stuff for horrible clients you would not want to be left alone with, all over the country, for very little reward. Yes, someone has to do it if people unable to pay a lawyer are to have proper representation, but the pittance that is paid and the time it takes to get paid are truly appalling.

Ilovecheese

I have just heard on the radio that young barristers are leaving the profession. What do they go on to do? Can they be solicitors instead?

They can move out of criminal, into another, more profitable area of law.
Friends who were experienced solicitors working in crime, eventually got sick of turning out in the middle of the night as well as earning much less than skilled trades like plumbing. Two of the moved into P.I claims. Half the stress twice the income.

Our criminal justice system is truly on its knees.

Iam64

Ilovecheese

I have just heard on the radio that young barristers are leaving the profession. What do they go on to do? Can they be solicitors instead?

They can move out of criminal, into another, more profitable area of law.
Friends who were experienced solicitors working in crime, eventually got sick of turning out in the middle of the night as well as earning much less than skilled trades like plumbing. Two of the moved into P.I claims. Half the stress twice the income.

Our criminal justice system is truly on its knees.

Not just the justice system I fear…

I have a neighbour who is a criminal barrister doing legal aid work. He sometimes has to travel a long way, paying extortionate train fares only to arrive at court and someone hasn’t turned up and the trial is unable to proceed- he may have to stay overnight in a hotel - then the case might still be delayed- no expenses are paid so he can be out of pocket by £200 or so. No wonder he voted to strike, he ends up earning less than the minimum wage for defending some horrible people.

Thank you Germanshepherdsmum and Iam64

I support the barristers and the dock workers.

Why should the union put an under cost of living increase of 7% offer to it's members when Felixstowe docks made £61 million in profits in 2020 and its parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, handed out £99 million to its shareholders?

I support all the strikers. The difficulties in trying to survive with the huge rate of inflation and the lack of real rises in pay are terrible.
The huge profits being made and the huge salaries and bonuses paid to senior executives are totally unacceptable.

( The barristers were offered a 15% rise in the amount of legal aid money and thought it wasn't enough. The dock workers were offered 7%. Over 90% of them voted in favour of striking)

The Bank of England forecast inflation to exceed 13% in the coming months and the BBC and FT are reporting that the investment bank Citi forecast inflation at 18%.

Makes 7% seem paltry.

I am very interested in what will happen to the promised triple lock pension increase next year. It is based on CPI in September this year - currently running at 10.1% and predicted to rise. Will they keep their promise? How popular will the new PM be if they fail to keep their promise?

RichmondPark1

I support the barristers and the dock workers.

Why should the union put an under cost of living increase of 7% offer to it's members when Felixstowe docks made £61 million in profits in 2020 and its parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, handed out £99 million to its shareholders?

Hutchinson manage to pay Chris Grayling £100000 per annum for his brilliant expertise and startling intellect. 7 days a month I think.

I think the striking barristers are, quite apart from the strength of their case, doing something to rid the public of the idea that strikes are all by "the working classes"

A junior barrister having studied for four or five years after getting really good A levels can earn less than the minimum wage.

This country needs to unite against the exploitation of workers, even those with wigs and gowns.