We'll *Do Something" about the strikes

In all my years I can't remember a time when there has been so much justified worker dissatisfaction with pay and conditions in so many sectors of public service, not even the piles of rubbish in the street under Edward Heath compares. Telling soldiers to drive ambulances is hardly a strategy. The government controls the public sector purse strings and they need to solve the problems, not waste time provocatively accusing workers of being unreasonable.

Curtaintwitcher

All this will weaken our country even further and make it more vulnerable. What just happened in Germany could so easily happen here....a military take-over might be a good thing though. A bit of discipline is much needed.

Wow! That was exactly what the Daily Mail thought in the 1930s, which is why the paper supported the Nazis. I can't say that worked out that well!

The utilities and building societies were undervalued when they were first privatised partly because the then govt wanted "ordinary" people to become shareholders. A tranche was allocated to individuals and other tranches to pension funds etc. Many of the individuals who subscribed for shares sold them, at a quite decent profit. A good example of gambling.

Katie59

“shareholders, who contribute nothing to the business, taking a large part of the profits.”

Without shareholders there would be no business, it’s their risk capital that funds the business, some make money some don’t. It is the profit that companies make that pay our pensions and ISAs

That is start up capital, which is completely different.

I'm sure that you must have bought and sold shares, Katie59. If it was an established company the money you paid for them didn't go to the company, it went to the person who last owned the shares. Most shareholders are just gamblers.

The large companies which own our privatised utilities don't raise money from shares.

I'm a wee bit fed up with people telling me how it works when I know that it isn't like that at all.

biglouis

I too remember the winter of discontent in the 1970s. I do believe we are heading for a general strike.

This is the British way. In France they take to the streets and burn cars.

I think we are well on our way to a general strike. Seems similar to 1928.

I support the unions and the strikes. The Tories would like to ban all strikes if they could.
People may not have much of a voice but without the unions we would have none.

“shareholders, who contribute nothing to the business, taking a large part of the profits.”

Without shareholders there would be no business, it’s their risk capital that funds the business, some make money some don’t. It is the profit that companies make that pay our pensions and ISAs

This govt just doesn't have a clue about the lives of ordinary people and they don't care. The sooner they go the better.

eazybee

I believe generally the public support an increase in wages for some workers, (not train drivers) but do not support strike action because it is bullying those who have no power to influence the outcome. The salary overall of those earning large sums at the top, usually through bonuses, needs to be scrutinised and a fairer division of wages established, but the answer to that is always, if they don't get sufficient money they will go elsewhere. I am inclined to say let them, a chance for others to show their capability.

It's not just about money, it's about changes to working practices. Driver less trains anyone? Trains without a guard or someone to be onboard if there's any trouble?

Blossoming

Anybody else think we’re heading towards a general strike?

No. Different social conditions.

What occurs to me is that the government simply doesn't have a plan at all. They are flailing around without a clue.

Talking of Royal Mail - I know it's a long time since it was started by Henry V111 but why is it still called 'Royal' when it's now a private company?

The stamps have the monarch's profile - why not the CEO's?

Even in the US, the mail service is government owned.

Just had a chat with my regular lovely postman. I told him I was fully in support of him striking and he got quite emotional.
He’s been a postie for 30+ years, he’s in his early 50s, so still has many years to work until he reaches retirement age. His wife wants him to look for a different job, but he’s always loved it, has had periods working only indoors but much prefers being out and about on deliveries.
He said he never thought he’d strike but feels there really is no alternative.

I’m a member of the public and I support the strikers.

Why do you think we don't support the train workers eazybee? Because you think they earn enough already and should just suck it up?

I've never felt bullied by someone on strike. I've felt inconvenienced a bit, but never bullied.

I believe generally the public support an increase in wages for some workers, (not train drivers) but do not support strike action because it is bullying those who have no power to influence the outcome. The salary overall of those earning large sums at the top, usually through bonuses, needs to be scrutinised and a fairer division of wages established, but the answer to that is always, if they don't get sufficient money they will go elsewhere. I am inclined to say let them, a chance for others to show their capability.

I agree with you Blossoming, I talked to my postie and Royal Mail paid over i billion to shareholders but offered them 9p an hour rise plus other changes. Absolutely disgraceful. I support all the strikes, We have workers claiming UC to top up wages using food banks etc. it is everybodies right in my mind, whatever their job to be able to strike.

In the old days, when shareholders were actually direct investors in a company, not just share speculators, they took the risk that if company profits weren't enough to pay a dividend they wouldn't get one. Now it is just expected that they will and some companies actually borrow money to pay dividends. This is crazy.

Companies also use profits to buy back their shares to inflate the 'value' of the company and attract more share speculators. This is also crazy.

I know we've had these debates before, but I think that the 'financial markets', solely focussed on profit taking, completely distort economies and have far too much influence without any responsibility.

For a long time I have not ordered stuff online where they use Royal Mail/Parcel Force. They are just not reliable enough time wise and if I am posting they always find a get out clause to avoid paying any compensation. I can't count how many notifications I have received saying I will get my delivery today only to find they really meant tomorrow! I don't get that with any other delivery company, even the ones with a less envious reputation.

Curtaintwitcher

All this will weaken our country even further and make it more vulnerable. What just happened in Germany could so easily happen here....a military take-over might be a good thing though. A bit of discipline is much needed.

How is it going to 'weaken our country'? Please explain.

Royal Mail are making profits, even the 'domestic' (letters) division

apex-insight.com/royal-mail-full-year-profits-up-revenues-steady/

They may have competition from the couriers for parcels, but if I were a business I think I'd use them rather than couriers as I think they are probably more reliable and already have established routes to everywhere in the UK.

Privatisation was, as in most of our public services, a very poor idea as there are always shareholders, who contribute nothing to the business, taking a large part of the profits.

Curtaintwitcher. I am not sure that " discipline" is the answer. Without trades unions actions, we would still see children working, no sick pay, no maternity rights and poor health and safety provision. These were not granted by wealthy pit owners/ mill and factory magnates, they were wrested from their grasping fists by workers joining together- starting with the Tolpuddle Martyrs. We allow these rights to be eroded at our peril- or, more likely, the peril of our children and grandchildren.

Curtaintwitcher

All this will weaken our country even further and make it more vulnerable. What just happened in Germany could so easily happen here....a military take-over might be a good thing though. A bit of discipline is much needed.

You can think it but not speak out, big brother might be watching!.

it is about time that companies thought more about their employees' salaries and less about that of their directors salaries and bonuses and the dividends paid. They seem to have forgotten that without their workers there would be no business and therefore no emoluments.

On Laura Keunssberg on Sunday the Chair of Currys was discussing this and mentioned in passing that their employees had received pay increases of 15.6% in the period since October 2021. He explained that the company valued their employees and wanted to keep them.

Compare this with Royal Mail, the biggest shareholder of which is a Czech billionaire called Daniel Kretinsky. As mentioned above the company wants to change working practices. The same applies to rail.

Royal Mail has paid £1.9bn to shareholders since 2013 privatisation.
CEO Simon Thompson was paid £753,000 last financial year.

My postie is worried about his pension.

Katie59

The problem I’m sure is that parcel delivery persons are paid way less than Royal Mail employees.
I suspect you are right, and some of them will be on zero hours contracts. That’s such an iniquitous system.
That doesn’t make the Royal Mail employees’ claims unfair. It’s just difficult to see how losing their custom to the other firms is going to help Royal Mail survive.

My most exciting junk mail is from Farm Foods, which tells me what’s on offer and offers me a discount if I remember to take the coupon.