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I’M ON STRIKE
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I’M ON STRIKE  I was on strike today. My trade union called a strike in protest of no pay rise for three years. Though the strike will probably be in vain and my day’s work has to be rearranged while losing a day’s pay, I always support my trade union and refuse to cross a picket line. Solidarity is the only way for workers to defend themselves. And I had an unexpected day off work! Above is the classic photo of the Battle of Orgreave during the miners’ strike in the mid-1980s in the UK. It shows a striking miner wearing a toy police helmet confronting a police officer. The strike was planned by the Conservative Party to curb trade union power in the country; the Conservatives wanted revenge for the miners’ successful strike in the early 1970s when they were in power. For the 1980s' showdown, power stations were ordered to stockpile coal beforehand to prevent blackouts during the strike, laws were passed to prevent the strike spreading to other industries, the police were given new powers to police strikes and were given a big pay rise to keep them sweet, and a brusque American was brought in to close down the country’s coal mines. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) called a strike. Foolishly, Arthur Scargill, the NUM’s leader, did not call a ballot of miners to get their support for the strike. Also, he didn’t just want to win the dispute; he wanted to bring down the Conservative Government as well. Stupidly, he led the NUM into the trap the Conservatives had carefully laid. Nottinghamshire miners broke away from the NUM and carried on working in the mines, thus undermining the strike. The right-wing press demonised the striking miners who were just defending their jobs. Communities and families were torn apart by the strike. The NUM called off the year-long strike. Most coal mines, even the Nottinghamshire mines, were shut down. Even to this day, ex-mining communities have not recovered. Most police officers now recognise that they did the Conservatives’ dirty work for them in this landmark industrial dispute. The country now imports coal! Before writing this post, I told myself not to rant and keep it short. I failed; it’s just something the Conservatives do to me! Anyway, I haven't had a rant here for a while! Are you, or were you, a member of a trade union? Have you ever been on strike? Would you cross a picket line? Do you rant? |
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I'm in a labor union in San Francisco. No I do not cross lines...We need to stay together. AND we need to elect politicians that have been in labor unions that will not sell us out.
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1. No, I don't work in a profession which has trades unions. We're small enough that we would generally represent our own individual interests well enough 2. Nope. 3. If it was a strike with just cause (rather than the one which almost brought down the Grangemouth refinery) then abslutely not! 4. Oh yes! Great rant McP, here's mine: The Tories of the 80's were simply evil, they think it the natural order of things that there should be an affordable and expendable workforce to tend to their power base. Their systematic dismantling of workers' rights, manufacturing industries and community spirit has served those purposes perfectly. Sadly, they write their own history, and the truth of the situation will have a slightly different hue to the one I paint in 100 years or so. On a philosophical level my values are deeply rooted in equality for all. As a youngster my politics were very left wing (f'n labels, bah!), the Thatcher years I feel disenfranchised a nation of honest decent people, destroyed communities and polarised swathes of society such that so many get-rich-quickers were created, along with many people at the opposite end of the spectrum who felt that the world owed them a living. I find it completely disingenuous (and completely fucking infuriating) to listen to Tories tell us how we must swallow the bitter pills left by the last Labour government when they all sit there with their millions in the bank, growing richer. Not that Tory Blair's era was necessarily any better. Just slightly more compassionate. On a practical, pragmatic level, we all need to make a living, we all need to work hard, we all need to eat and sleep comfortably, and so economic viability is essential. I generally consider that up to a point, making a profit is a good thing, it stimulates economies and motivates. But it becomes problematic when the human weakness of greed motivates profit at any and all cost to others, it becomes unsustainable when fucking people over is seen to be a good thing, and that is when, on a practical level, society fails. As we surely will again.......... Oops, soap box moment well and truly over, sorry for the rant, thankyou for the opportunity!
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Never was a member of a union. I avoid strike lines and understand most of the purpose of Union representation
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I was in a union for 37 1/2 years and went on strike many times in that period!
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Union girl here, all the way
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Yes, am a member and trade unions have quite a lot of power in Sweden. Never been on strike or crossed a picket line though. I do a lot of ranting - I believe it's good to get stuff off your chest!  Hugs E&T
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I'm in a labor union in San Francisco. No I do not cross lines...We need to stay together. AND we need to elect politicians that have been in labor unions that will not sell us out.
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1. No, I don't work in a profession which has trades unions. We're small enough that we would generally represent our own individual interests well enough 2. Nope. 3. If it was a strike with just cause (rather than the one which almost brought down the Grangemouth refinery) then abslutely not! 4. Oh yes! Great rant McP, here's mine: The Tories of the 80's were simply evil, they think it the natural order of things that there should be an affordable and expendable workforce to tend to their power base. Their systematic dismantling of workers' rights, manufacturing industries and community spirit has served those purposes perfectly. Sadly, they write their own history, and the truth of the situation will have a slightly different hue to the one I paint in 100 years or so. On a philosophical level my values are deeply rooted in equality for all. As a youngster my politics were very left wing (f'n labels, bah!), the Thatcher years I feel disenfranchised a nation of honest decent people, destroyed communities and polarised swathes of society such that so many get-rich-quickers were created, along with many people at the opposite end of the spectrum who felt that the world owed them a living. I find it completely disingenuous (and completely fucking infuriating) to listen to Tories tell us how we must swallow the bitter pills left by the last Labour government when they all sit there with their millions in the bank, growing richer. Not that Tory Blair's era was necessarily any better. Just slightly more compassionate. On a practical, pragmatic level, we all need to make a living, we all need to work hard, we all need to eat and sleep comfortably, and so economic viability is essential. I generally consider that up to a point, making a profit is a good thing, it stimulates economies and motivates. But it becomes problematic when the human weakness of greed motivates profit at any and all cost to others, it becomes unsustainable when fucking people over is seen to be a good thing, and that is when, on a practical level, society fails. As we surely will again.......... Oops, soap box moment well and truly over, sorry for the rant, thankyou for the opportunity! Please feel free to rant, especially against the Tories, here any time.
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Never was a member of a union. I avoid strike lines and understand most of the purpose of Union representation
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I was in a union for 37 1/2 years and went on strike many times in that period!  Seriously, I'm impressed with your union credentials.
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Union girl here, all the way 
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We should hold a ranting contest to see who is the ranting queen or king of Affairlook! 
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I love a good rant, both giving and hearing a rant!
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You're right, a strike does suck. But it's all workers have as a last resort.
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Yes, am a member and trade unions have quite a lot of power in Sweden. Never been on strike or crossed a picket line though. I do a lot of ranting - I believe it's good to get stuff off your chest! Hugs E&T
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