Why strike?

[Coldicote]

With this country and others in dire financial straits, with spending cuts and unemployment, what do workers expect or hope to achieve by going on strike? If money's not there - it's not there. It's called 'economic deficit'. Don't they believe it?

[Count-A-Strong]

Well, that's a bit simplistic. Basically they believe that am proportion of the wealth held by the people who've worked hard at school and throughout their careers to earn a decent living should subsidise them for being either thick, lazy or both.

[jake-the-peg]

And I suppose if you take out a mortgage to buy a house you look at your statement halfway through the year and go - cripes I'm in economic defecit - I must pay back all that money before the year's up

Is that how it works?

The money is there the defecit could easilly be paid back over a longer period of time- the Tories just want to slash into public finances because it's a fundamental mantra for them that

Private sector - Good ; Public sector - Bad

They'll never get a better smokescreen to hack and slash.

Of course a lot of private companies will go to the wall as they lose public sector contracts or are subcontractors to those who do.

But I guess they are just unfortunate collateral damage in the ideology war

[jake-the-peg]

Oh and before we all get wound up about how there's no money in the pot - take a moment to put this into perspective:

http://www.princeton.edu/~pkrugman/ukdebt.png

[boxtops]

Those of us who work in the public sector are seeing the pace of it from the inside. It's scary.

[McMouse]

Sounds more like class war jtp

[Count-A-Strong]

Interesting Jake. That graph was probably put together by someone who worked hard at school, uni and in their career and now earn a reasonable living. And now someone who never tried at school, never went to uni and works in a dead end job wants a bit of thier salary or they'll stamp their tiny militant feet and sulk until they get it.

(Yes, I know its american, but the analogy still works)

[jake-the-peg]

Or alternatively Count - it's put together by an economist who understands the data and doesn't get his insights from the tabloid press.

If anybody has a job - private or public sector, or is self employed and is not worried about the impact of these cuts on their livlihood - they haven't understood them

[Count-A-Strong]

I wholeheartedly concur. As someone trying to start a new business with a wife in the public sector (NHS) and who both remember the 70's it's extremely worrying. The appointment of Ed Millitant as leader of new new labour sends a shiver down my spine.

[rov1200]

The problem with some of these union leaders is that they have too much testosterone and want to flex their muscles. They need to justify their £100,000 salaries and still receive it when their members are on strike. Their narrow minded thinking means they unable to see outside their small bubble and if the country as well as the general public have to suffer so be it.

[Count-A-Strong]

Isn't it good when the question poser joins in the debate!

[Coldicote]

Yes I'm still here Count - the debate only started earlier today and I've been interested to hear what others had to say. I've had years in public service and strikes cause so much antipathy it seems they don't achieve anything worth while. I agree with boxtops that the present situation is scary and, as Rov 1200 says, 'if the country as well as the general public have to suffer so be it'. Unfortunately that's true but I can't see how going on strike will do any good.

[Sooper]

Im in the Public Sector, well until next June when im made redundant after 23 years. It is very frightening how they are just shutting down various departments/offices at an alarming rate too.
There were strikes when the news was first announced to us and it did have some impact as the Government then went into further talks with our Unions etc and instead of shutting 5 Offices they settled on only shutting 3, unfortunately mine didnt make the cut as the South East seems to be being hit the hardest due to costs, valuation of the buidlings/land and the dreaded Lyons report.
Very worrying times ahead me thinks!

[WShee9]

Unfortunately Sooper it would have happened anyway evev if Labour got in again at the last election. The last governments incompetence in financial matters was your last straw....