| STRIKES 18:09 - Sep 18 with 2238 views | johnlangy |
There has been huge criticism of all the strikes over the last year or so not only from the Government but also most of the media.
They've all questioned the amount of the rises being asked for saying that the country can't afford them as they'd lead to more inflation. When talking about the rail strikes they always quote the fact that the train drivers currently earn around £60K and use that as an argument against the rail unions. All the offers so far to all the unions have been around 5/6/7 % the reasoning being that that is all that can be afforded at this time.
They also state that the strikes are politically motivated and the aim is to bring down the Government.
What do you think ? |  | | |  |
| STRIKES on 18:18 - Sep 18 with 1677 views | Whiterockin |
I think that the Conservatives will sit the striles out, the rail strike in particular and pass them over to the next Labour Government to sort out. |  | | |
| STRIKES on 18:42 - Sep 18 with 1648 views | 1983 |
It's not the unions bringing down this sham of a government they are doing in it themselves. Labour will be no different all they have to do is promise nothing say nothing and just waltz into number 10 and do exactly what they want just like the Tories, the next 5-10 yrs is going to be sh1t |  |
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| STRIKES on 19:51 - Sep 18 with 1596 views | Kilkennyjack |
Tories say wages going up causes inflation.
But wages have not gone up for years.
However inflation has gone up enough to create a cost of living crisis.
So the tory logic is flawed.
If money from the utilities and previously nationalised railways was paying loyal staff instead of shareholders then we might be ok.
Renationalise the lot. |  |
| Beware of the Risen People
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| STRIKES on 20:42 - Sep 18 with 1553 views | felixstowe_jack |
| STRIKES on 19:51 - Sep 18 by Kilkennyjack |
Tories say wages going up causes inflation.
But wages have not gone up for years.
However inflation has gone up enough to create a cost of living crisis.
So the tory logic is flawed.
If money from the utilities and previously nationalised railways was paying loyal staff instead of shareholders then we might be ok.
Renationalise the lot. |
You clearly do not remember the disastrous nationalisation of British Railways.
Wages have shot up since the end of covoid roughly the same time inflation started.
Though post pandemic global shortages, war in Ukraine and soaring increases of gas and oil prices plus food price increases as a result of war in Ukraine have all contributed to inflation. [Post edited 18 Sep 2023 20:49]
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| STRIKES on 21:22 - Sep 18 with 1537 views | 1983 |
| STRIKES on 20:42 - Sep 18 by felixstowe_jack |
You clearly do not remember the disastrous nationalisation of British Railways.
Wages have shot up since the end of covoid roughly the same time inflation started.
Though post pandemic global shortages, war in Ukraine and soaring increases of gas and oil prices plus food price increases as a result of war in Ukraine have all contributed to inflation. [Post edited 18 Sep 2023 20:49]
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You can't compare British Rail of 35 yrs ago to today's modern railways thats just ridiculous privatisation or not the railways would grown and evolved just like it has today,the reason it was privatised was the Torys sold the family silver along with everything else for a quick buck.... | |
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| STRIKES on 21:57 - Sep 18 with 1502 views | majorraglan |
| STRIKES on 20:42 - Sep 18 by felixstowe_jack |
You clearly do not remember the disastrous nationalisation of British Railways.
Wages have shot up since the end of covoid roughly the same time inflation started.
Though post pandemic global shortages, war in Ukraine and soaring increases of gas and oil prices plus food price increases as a result of war in Ukraine have all contributed to inflation. [Post edited 18 Sep 2023 20:49]
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The railways have been a mess for a long time, the privatised entities we have now are no better than British Rail.
Network Rail was recently fined a huge amount of cash after 3 people were killed in a train crash following safety failings and it wasn’t a 1 off - check out some of the other fines they’ve received.
In terms of prices, global shortages, war in Ukraine, gas and oil prices have all contributed to inflation as you’ve pointed out, so has the corporate rip off we’re facing and to a degree Brexit. We’re getting taken for a ride. | | | |
| STRIKES on 22:39 - Sep 18 with 1475 views | 1983 |
Network Rail is not a private company it's government owned so when they get fined the money goes to...the government!
The vast majority of Network Rail work is out sourced to agency companies.
The railway is a merry go round of nonsense | |
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| STRIKES on 22:54 - Sep 18 with 1459 views | builthjack |
| STRIKES on 18:42 - Sep 18 by 1983 |
It's not the unions bringing down this sham of a government they are doing in it themselves. Labour will be no different all they have to do is promise nothing say nothing and just waltz into number 10 and do exactly what they want just like the Tories, the next 5-10 yrs is going to be sh1t |
It will,take 15 years to repair the damage that this Government, the worst in 100 years, has done. |  |
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| STRIKES on 23:12 - Sep 18 with 1459 views | Joesus_Of_Narbereth |
| STRIKES on 21:57 - Sep 18 by majorraglan |
The railways have been a mess for a long time, the privatised entities we have now are no better than British Rail.
Network Rail was recently fined a huge amount of cash after 3 people were killed in a train crash following safety failings and it wasn’t a 1 off - check out some of the other fines they’ve received.
In terms of prices, global shortages, war in Ukraine, gas and oil prices have all contributed to inflation as you’ve pointed out, so has the corporate rip off we’re facing and to a degree Brexit. We’re getting taken for a ride. |
Yes I think there’s a shit ton of naked profiteering going on. When these big companies are complaining that they have no choice but to pass rising costs on to the customer only to announce record profits of several squillions the next quarter you have to surmise that a huge deal of this inflation is driven by nothing but pure greed. |  |
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| STRIKES on 23:17 - Sep 18 with 1451 views | majorraglan |
| STRIKES on 22:39 - Sep 18 by 1983 |
Network Rail is not a private company it's government owned so when they get fined the money goes to...the government!
The vast majority of Network Rail work is out sourced to agency companies.
The railway is a merry go round of nonsense |
Yup, but the blood sucking lawyers make a fortune and the ineptness of Network Rail and ultimately is masters the government is costing lives. | | | |
| STRIKES on 12:39 - Sep 19 with 1350 views | 1983 |
| STRIKES on 23:12 - Sep 18 by Joesus_Of_Narbereth |
Yes I think there’s a shit ton of naked profiteering going on. When these big companies are complaining that they have no choice but to pass rising costs on to the customer only to announce record profits of several squillions the next quarter you have to surmise that a huge deal of this inflation is driven by nothing but pure greed. |
Tell me about it and here is another example of this obscene profiteering
XC the 3rd worst train operator company awarded another contract! just like some windows & doors company making a mess installing your new front door and then getting them back to put up a new conservatory
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66851790
Avanti given another maximum 9 year contract it is owned by First Group where now their share price is the highest it's been for over 10 years now sitting at £1.58 a share they are even selling shares to staff for £1.11 a share.... Oh and don't forget old poor them during covid they were skint and the tax payer had to keep them a float with millions and still do now.
There will be a lot of back slapping and cigar smoking today in Westminster | |
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| STRIKES on 12:57 - Sep 19 with 1337 views | Gwyn737 |
| STRIKES on 23:12 - Sep 18 by Joesus_Of_Narbereth |
Yes I think there’s a shit ton of naked profiteering going on. When these big companies are complaining that they have no choice but to pass rising costs on to the customer only to announce record profits of several squillions the next quarter you have to surmise that a huge deal of this inflation is driven by nothing but pure greed. |
Spot on.
Also many of the public sector strikes have been resolved with pay deals below that of private sector wage growth.
How does that translate into blaming public sector workers for inflation? | | | |
| STRIKES on 15:02 - Sep 19 with 1316 views | johnlangy |
A lot of good points. And the ones about profiteering at the top in so many of these large companies links in to my next post on the subject.
As I said, 'there has been huge criticism of all the strikes over the last year or so not only from the Government but also most of the media'.
A couple of months ago there was a short news piece about pay rises for the CEO's of the FTSE 100 companies. These people saw their average pay rise from £3.4 million to £3.9 million meaning a rise of 16% or so. There was no comment from the media about this being bad for inflation. No criticism from the Government that it may cause inflation. On the contrary, the usual argument was made that these people are the most sought after people in their field and can command those salaries. So that's okay then.
This argument is complete rubbish. When you see the woman who headed up Coutts Bank having to leave for making such an incredibly stupid decision as to cancel Nigel Farage's Bank Accounts with them leading the Bank to become a laughing stock and the share price to drop you have to wonder are they really that sought after ? Are they really that clever ? The rest of us ordinary people would just be sacked on the spot for doing something so stupid. But what happened with her ? She was allowed to leave with £5.2 million severance pay.
So I thought, if you take those 100 CEO's pay rises the total is £50 million. If you decided to give 10,000 people on average pay (£30,000 approx) a rise of 16% that would equate to £5000 each. Or £50 million in total. But we can't do that because it would cause inflation.
What if you took the CEO's of all the other companies not in the FTSE 100 but still very large companies. And then you took the Chairpersons, the MD's, the Financial Directors etc etc of ALL those companies. If you did you'd probably end up with maybe 5000 highly paid people probably all receiving 16% pay rises. And if you translated that into 16% pay rises for ordinary workers and paid them the money instead you'd end up with maybe 250,000 people getting good pay rises.
But you cant do that. Because giving those pay rises to the 250,000 would cause inflation.
But it's okay to give the same amount of money to the 5000 because that doesn't cause inflation.
Blindingly obvious really.
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What all this shows is what we already know, that we live in a us and them society. They live by their own set of rules which suit them. And they impose another set of rules and laws on us.
And God help us if we don't stick to them. | | | |
| STRIKES on 10:07 - Sep 22 with 1218 views | johnlangy |
And there's more.
Yet again on Question Time last night the Government minister on the panel came out with this argument. In answer to a question about the NHS strikes he questioned why Junior doctors on an average pay of £55K and Consultants on £130K would need to go on strike. This argument has been put forward hundreds of times since the strikes began, in the case of the Rail strikes quoting the salaries of train drivers.
With average salaries in the country around £30K the vast majority of us would love to be paid £55K never mind £130K. But yet again he quoted averages. A junior doctor starts on £27K which after training for 5 years or more is pathetic
But, as I said previously, I don't remember any comment at all about CEO's on £3.4 million getting a 16% pay rise. If £55K or £130K is more than enough for doing a job why is £3.4 million not enough.
If CEO's plus directors and Chairpersons etc can command their salaries because they are so 'in demand' why does that argument not apply to people doing ordinary jobs ? AFAIK there are not 10,000 train drivers, for example, ready to jump in to those jobs if the current ones were to leave or be sacked. In fact different rail companies poach drivers from other companies because they are so 'in demand'.
Is it because it's US and not THEM. | | | |
| STRIKES on 12:45 - Sep 22 with 1191 views | Gwyn737 |
| STRIKES on 10:07 - Sep 22 by johnlangy |
And there's more.
Yet again on Question Time last night the Government minister on the panel came out with this argument. In answer to a question about the NHS strikes he questioned why Junior doctors on an average pay of £55K and Consultants on £130K would need to go on strike. This argument has been put forward hundreds of times since the strikes began, in the case of the Rail strikes quoting the salaries of train drivers.
With average salaries in the country around £30K the vast majority of us would love to be paid £55K never mind £130K. But yet again he quoted averages. A junior doctor starts on £27K which after training for 5 years or more is pathetic
But, as I said previously, I don't remember any comment at all about CEO's on £3.4 million getting a 16% pay rise. If £55K or £130K is more than enough for doing a job why is £3.4 million not enough.
If CEO's plus directors and Chairpersons etc can command their salaries because they are so 'in demand' why does that argument not apply to people doing ordinary jobs ? AFAIK there are not 10,000 train drivers, for example, ready to jump in to those jobs if the current ones were to leave or be sacked. In fact different rail companies poach drivers from other companies because they are so 'in demand'.
Is it because it's US and not THEM. |
Agreed.
It's all very well saying we can't afford them but if we can't aford them we can't have them. | | | |
| STRIKES on 16:28 - Sep 22 with 1151 views | SullutaCreturned |
| STRIKES on 20:42 - Sep 18 by felixstowe_jack |
You clearly do not remember the disastrous nationalisation of British Railways.
Wages have shot up since the end of covoid roughly the same time inflation started.
Though post pandemic global shortages, war in Ukraine and soaring increases of gas and oil prices plus food price increases as a result of war in Ukraine have all contributed to inflation. [Post edited 18 Sep 2023 20:49]
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The railays were just fine until Beeching weren't they? The privatisation of them AND utilities has seen massive profits going to shareholders and if nationalisation was bad because of strikes, then ask why we have strikes now they are privatised?
Anyway, inflation has been kept artificially high by the rich and powerful. The Saudi's have reduced oil production which has raised prices. Many places have been profiteering yet some are having a go at people who just want enough money to live on?
Felix, I've said before, things don't have to be the same now as when the unions held so much more power. You seem to be stuck in the past. | | | |
| STRIKES on 08:25 - Sep 29 with 1005 views | felixstowe_jack |
| STRIKES on 16:28 - Sep 22 by SullutaCreturned |
The railays were just fine until Beeching weren't they? The privatisation of them AND utilities has seen massive profits going to shareholders and if nationalisation was bad because of strikes, then ask why we have strikes now they are privatised?
Anyway, inflation has been kept artificially high by the rich and powerful. The Saudi's have reduced oil production which has raised prices. Many places have been profiteering yet some are having a go at people who just want enough money to live on?
Felix, I've said before, things don't have to be the same now as when the unions held so much more power. You seem to be stuck in the past. |
It is the unions that are stuck in the past.
I see that RMT boss Mick Lynch is upset because Network Rail has decided that people who took strike action will not be getting the Annual Performance related bonus.
Why on earth should they. | |
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| STRIKES on 08:37 - Sep 29 with 1013 views | onehunglow |
“ the worst in a hundred years” then.
Why stop at 100!
Not the worst in my lifetime although it’s one of the gutless in 50 years | |
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| STRIKES on 10:43 - Sep 29 with 988 views | majorraglan |
| STRIKES on 16:28 - Sep 22 by SullutaCreturned |
The railays were just fine until Beeching weren't they? The privatisation of them AND utilities has seen massive profits going to shareholders and if nationalisation was bad because of strikes, then ask why we have strikes now they are privatised?
Anyway, inflation has been kept artificially high by the rich and powerful. The Saudi's have reduced oil production which has raised prices. Many places have been profiteering yet some are having a go at people who just want enough money to live on?
Felix, I've said before, things don't have to be the same now as when the unions held so much more power. You seem to be stuck in the past. |
And it’s not as though the services provided have improved, look at the volume of sewerage etc water companies are pumping out.
Regarding your point about the Saudis reducing the amount of oil being pumped, it just goes to show that we need an alternative secure low cost supply of energy. Over and above the supply issue, earlier this year/last year the Competition and Marketing Authority allowed a merger between a couple of the big petrol garage companies - at the time they allowed the mergers to up ahead they identified potential adverse impacts on competitions and price rises for customers, but they allowed the mergers to proceed. Guess what happened, yup prices went up and consumers ended up paying more as retailers consolidated their margins. We’re being ripped off again?
Asda in Llanelli us 5p a litre cheaper than Asda Gorseinon, Tesco Llanelli is 6p cheaper than Carmarthen and it’s the same with Morrisons. We’re being ripped off while the big companies who have monopolies are raking it in, we need stronger consumer protection which strikes a balance between company profits and individuals. | | | |
| STRIKES on 10:51 - Sep 29 with 977 views | Gwyn737 |
| STRIKES on 10:43 - Sep 29 by majorraglan |
And it’s not as though the services provided have improved, look at the volume of sewerage etc water companies are pumping out.
Regarding your point about the Saudis reducing the amount of oil being pumped, it just goes to show that we need an alternative secure low cost supply of energy. Over and above the supply issue, earlier this year/last year the Competition and Marketing Authority allowed a merger between a couple of the big petrol garage companies - at the time they allowed the mergers to up ahead they identified potential adverse impacts on competitions and price rises for customers, but they allowed the mergers to proceed. Guess what happened, yup prices went up and consumers ended up paying more as retailers consolidated their margins. We’re being ripped off again?
Asda in Llanelli us 5p a litre cheaper than Asda Gorseinon, Tesco Llanelli is 6p cheaper than Carmarthen and it’s the same with Morrisons. We’re being ripped off while the big companies who have monopolies are raking it in, we need stronger consumer protection which strikes a balance between company profits and individuals. |
In regard to your first point, I watched the first part of the Paul Whitehouse documentary on rivers the other night - it was shaocking to hear the scale of what's been happening. | | | |
| STRIKES on 10:59 - Sep 29 with 970 views | majorraglan |
| STRIKES on 10:51 - Sep 29 by Gwyn737 |
In regard to your first point, I watched the first part of the Paul Whitehouse documentary on rivers the other night - it was shaocking to hear the scale of what's been happening. |
And Sunak wants to build another 150,000 houses in Cambridgeshire without improving the water infrastructure!!!
The houses are much needed and will provide a huge boost to the economy, but the infrastructure has to be in place. We can’t have 150,000 new houses with no additional treatment facilities snd reservoirs etc. The developers are making a huge profit on new houses and they need to be paying their share. | | | |
| STRIKES on 15:52 - Sep 29 with 934 views | SullutaCreturned |
| STRIKES on 20:42 - Sep 18 by felixstowe_jack |
You clearly do not remember the disastrous nationalisation of British Railways.
Wages have shot up since the end of covoid roughly the same time inflation started.
Though post pandemic global shortages, war in Ukraine and soaring increases of gas and oil prices plus food price increases as a result of war in Ukraine have all contributed to inflation. [Post edited 18 Sep 2023 20:49]
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God, you and Kilky deserve each other.
The tories said big wage rises right now would add to inflation.
You, Felix, always rattle on about nationalisation being bad but privatisation has hardly been a roaring success and just because nationalised industry was badly run before, it doesn't mean it has to be that way again.
You are both stuck in a time warp
On the OP, I have no doubt some union leaders want to damage the government but at the same time, those actually striking are struggling to get by. The workers NEED more money so they can pay their bills. | | | |
| STRIKES on 13:54 - Oct 8 with 819 views | onehunglow |
| STRIKES on 15:52 - Sep 29 by SullutaCreturned |
God, you and Kilky deserve each other.
The tories said big wage rises right now would add to inflation.
You, Felix, always rattle on about nationalisation being bad but privatisation has hardly been a roaring success and just because nationalised industry was badly run before, it doesn't mean it has to be that way again.
You are both stuck in a time warp
On the OP, I have no doubt some union leaders want to damage the government but at the same time, those actually striking are struggling to get by. The workers NEED more money so they can pay their bills. |
We are ,as we have all been,utterly divided as a country
Privatisation / Nationalisation.
We can’t decide.
Some prefer one to the other, whilst others just want an efficient system free of political interference. | |
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| STRIKES on 15:26 - Oct 8 with 788 views | majorraglan |
That’s a huge blow for education. Very cunning timing - late on a Friday afternoon hoping nobody would pick it up.
The increase is now 1.9% when inflation has recently been as high as 10% and is now around 6.8%. This is a major hit for schools.
When the WG make a mistake it’s Drakers fault. When the government make a similar error you never see Sunak’s name being linked to it. The reason i made this comment is to highlight the double standards that exist and not to defend Drakers because I want him gone and he can take Lee Waster with him. | | | |
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