Cameron and Maude. Kebabed by ED. Sadly, ED stands for Evan Davies — on this morning’s Today programme. But at least two other Eds should take note. They could do the same. David Cameron and Francis Maude were exposed as talking cobblers about public sector pensions. On Tuesday at the Local Government Association conference, David […]
Posts Tagged ‘Strikes’
The Unions can win, and Ed shouldn’t knock them
Jun 29th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Ed Miliband yesterday repeated his opposition to strike action: “Strikes are a sign of failure…. on both sides and Thursday’s industrial action is a mistake.” He is, to be fair more critical of the Government who are “reckless and provocative“. However, he clearly hadn’t read Andy Newman‘s explanation here of the distinction between the funded local […]
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Three strikes and you’re out, or is it one?
Jun 28th, 2011 by Michael Meacher.Thursday’s strike over Government proposals on public sector pensions will bring to a head simmering tensions on several fronts. Rising anger over the cuts, though the pensions dispute has nothing whatever to do with the budget deficit, will reinforce the resistance, thus far and no further, on an issue where the Government is seen to […]
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Strikes are not sufficient – we need to win the public argument
Jun 27th, 2011 by Michael Meacher.Ed Miliband is reported as saying “the most important thing for the unions is to get the public to understand what their argument is. I don’t think the argument has yet been got across on public sector pensions as to some of the injustices contained in what the government is doing. I think strikes must […]
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The debate shouldn’t be whether to resist, but how to resist
Jun 23rd, 2011 by Owen Jones.In thirty years time, school kids studying history will be asked to answer the following question: “How did the British Conservative Party transform a private sector crisis into a crisis of public spending?” However it is answered, the maddening injustice of what the Tories are trying to pull off will scream through the ages. An […]
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Tories get it all wrong on Livingstone campaign donations
Jun 16th, 2011 by Andy Newman.The Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has briefed the Evening Standard, asking “what exactly Bob Crow will be getting in return for his campaign donations” to Ken Livingstone’s campaign. Yet no donation has been received. Specifically Philip Hammond said: “I’m sure many Londoners, like me, will be wondering what exactly Bob Crow will be getting in return […]
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The Tory who wants to ban strikes
Jun 16th, 2011 by David Osler.Boris Johnson may argue for a minimum turnout threshold on industrial action ballots, Vince Cable might make threatening noises at GMB conference. But throughout my adult lifetime, I cannot remember any public figure openly advocating that strikes should be illegal. Step forward Dr Andrew Lilico, an economist who – modestly or otherwise – styles himself ‘one […]
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Is Cameron about to declare war against the unions?
Jan 15th, 2011 by Owen Jones.Britain’s laws are “the most restrictive on trade unions in the Western world”, as Tony Blair once boasted. Our country is in violation of its obligations as a signatory to various International Labour Organisation Conventions. Strikes can be overturned on the flimsiest of technicalities. The right-wing cry that Labour is somehow the puppet of its trade […]
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Unions are vital to the defence of citizens’ rights
Oct 22nd, 2010 by Michael Meacher.Astonishingly the near-insurgency conditions prevailing today in France aren’t just because Sarkozy intends to raise the retirement age to 62, but mainly because his proposals to reform the social contract are being imposed without consultation – in practice, without negotiation with the unions. The trade unions are seen in France as the bulwark and defender […]
