jandjuk

Unless my memory is deceiving me, or things have changed, I don't recall there being nearly as many strikes in NZ as there is in the UK. People in NZ (and Aus) - are there many strikes down there these days?

I remember there were a few strikes now and again, but usually only for a day at most (and usually localised), and then to negotiating table.

but the strikes in the UK seem to be over the top! posties, firemen (again!), train drivers.... holding the country to ransom.

Everyone wants more pay! If they don't like their conditions of work why don't they just go find another job which pays better?

I can't believe some of these strikes are illegal... if they are illegal why the hell are they not arrested and/or sacked?

Seems ridiculous to me, but then I don't believe in unions I guess.

Rob&Marisa

I sugest that you go and talk to some of the people taking these actions and find out what their grievances are before you start slagging them off.
They won`t bite you , just go and talk to them , you`ll find they are reasonable people being treated disgracefully.

PeteY

Possibly, but more often than not its purely about money. I'm always thinking that i should be paid more for what i do, as i am sure most people do. I don't just stop working though. I either go out and look for another (better paid) job, or I live with it.

At the end of the day, IF the dispute is about pay, then firstly the strikers should be glad they have a job at all (many don't), and secondly, they agreed to do a job at a certain wage....whats changed?

steandleigh

Hi jandjuk,

why are you returning to NZ next year? For a better life maybe? Good for you.

Do you think that maybe the reason why these people are striking could be because THEY want a better life too?

Not everyone can get on a plane and escape, yeah- strikes are a pain in the a**e, but they matter to those involved.

steandleigh

Hi Pete,

The average, decent working man has had enough. And maybe he's sick of working his ass off for a pittance, whilst others who've never lifted a finger in their life can sit on their arses and collect every benefit going and more.

Makes me sick to think that my hub gets taxed to death to pay for idiots who just sit back and collect.

It's about time things changed - a fair days work for a fair days pay, and if you don't want to work, then you should go hungry.

if more worked, we'd have less to pay out in benefits and maybe ( a big maybe though ) less tax to pay.

We could probably all manage on an average wage if we weren't taxed to death.

karawara88

The joys of Mr Blairs Britain, under the previous Labour government it was much the same story, union control and country in massive debt. They promise everything and deliver nothing.

For those that voted him in under the promise of New Labour they are now paying for it. Thats only my personal opinion. Labour love to support the welfare. Sod the working man or small business.

sculkin

I don't want to get into the ins and outs of every strike but you hit the nail on the head when you said that the workers agreed to do a certain job at a certain wage. In the case of the postal workers (and no I'm not one or married to one) the employers are changing their contracts and conditions of employment. Very unfair! I don't agree with all strikes but I am a firm believer in everyones right to strike.

karawara88

I agree thats its unfair to change terms and conditions but don't believe in strikes. In most cases the people on strike don't want to strike, its usually the gits in suits who are still getting paid that want the strikes all because they are unable to do the job they are paid for and negotiate with the management.

Rob&Marisa

So what do you sugesst the Postal workers & Firefighters do?

Both their managements are trying to impose conditions that are unacceptable to the workers and will not negotiate with them .

There`s not even the carrot and stick, it`s all stick!

I`m sure some will say "If they don`t like it they can leave".

Well what happens if they all leave ?

Come to think of it by taking the unnofficial action you can see what chaos would occur if they did all leave.

PeteY

I agree Chris. I know a firefighter and he reckons he had practically 0 choice when it came to striking. He ended up loosing alot of pay, because he could'nt go to work, as there were'nt enough people who did'nt want to strike at his station to operate it.

PeteY

I was under the impression the firefighters were after a 30% payrise?

karawara88

I dont want to get into the politics of firefighters and postal workers, but in my view they joined a union and that union has paid representatives / negotiators who in most cases get paid if there members strike. The management don't want strikes because they lose money, more often than not the workers don't want a strike because they lose money.

On saying that I have no idea what the alternative is when its a stale mate. Like war, strikes should be the last resort and I believe more often than not its a union asserting its power.

graham__smith

Most people have no wish to strike.
But there seems to be a growing trend with management in companies to screw over people by changing agreed terms and conditions on a whim.
Talking never seems to work, only drastic action like striking.

just my 2 cents.

jandjuk

I'm afraid I just don't get unions...

An employer is paying us to perform a service. No one is forcing us to work for them - it's a free world. If they (as the paymaster) want to change the conditions, then I can renegotiate the contract to suit all parties, or find another job.

Don't you think that it is ironic that something that is set up to 'protect the workers' ends up having a massive negative economic impact on businesses all across the country?

I don't oppose small strikes to make a point, as long as disruption is kept to a minimum - but large illegal strikes cannot be justified. It just seems incredibly selfish to me.

HiddenPaw

Doctors, surgeons and medical workers in Oz threatened strikes in the last few weeks over the govt's medical indemnity insurance. The strikes never materialised as the govt have agreed to resolve the issues by Christmas. So we wait and see.... Many docs/specialists have vowed to resign if the proposals are passed.

University lecturers went on a one-day strike last month as well - not sure of the details

And there was a one-day teachers strike in Aus in September over pay and school closures. - think it was in Vic, WA, NSW .

Transport unions seem to be quite active in Oz as well from what I have read inthe papers - there have been a number of strikes in recent years over pay and conditions.