SIR GUESTLING THORN

What are your thoughts on all the strikes? Don’t support the “workers” inconvenience, ruining your Xmas? Perhaps you are with them surely they all deserve better pay and conditions? Everything is political and nothing more so than Unions doing one of the things they are there for. Personally I am generally a supporter of this industrial action. When you see the wastage and expenses claimed by our government (which runs into multi-millions) their excuse that it will fuel inflation is bogus and disingenuous in the extreme. Yes many of these “workers” are already paid well, yes some of the union leaders are remunerated well. None of this is relevant in relation to a pay increase or some of the demands that are being asked of them by their employers! We love them and we hate them all at the same time. It is inconvenient, for many it will have an effect on their plans and why we complain that is all done at Christmas is bogus. If you were planning action at what time would you do it, when it has no impact on anyone or when it has maximum impact? Have you ever witnessed a government who condemn every strike, every action and yet refuse to interfere even though it is the fundamental task of governing to make sure the country runs! There are two side to every negotiation but in order to resolve a dispute you have to negotiate. It used to be that unions would make a demand above what they really wanted the employers would eventually sit down with them and agree to pay them less. Job done. Now both sides to a greater and lesser degree seem to have forgotten how to negotiate and the government has entirely absolved themselves of their  responsibility to help! It seems rhetoric and opposing each other has become more important than meeting and discussing a solution. The press and media love to vilify everyone and there is a some evidence that particularly one union leader might just be relishing the limelight a little to much? 

I am no great lover of Christmas and frankly it will not affect me but a stand has to be made after twelve years of Conservative misgoverning and corruption!

Stay well