Postal Strikes During Recession - Irresponsible Action or Freedom of Speech?
Posted: Friday, October 23, 2009
by Julian Price
http://www.uk-freelance-content-writer.co.uk/
As the Western world continues its clamouring campaign for all things "freedom" and as Global recession hits lives and livelihoods at every level across the planet, the postal workers (or the Union that heads them) in the United Kingdom have decided now is a good time to have a good whinge about money and go on strike, disrupting an already crippled economy even further! Admittedly, working conditions and modernisation issues are also cited as reasons, but let's face it; it's all about the money. It's always about the money. Isn't it?
Unemployment figures are sky high, jobs are being cut, businesses are folding, employees everywhere are being told to expect pay freezes as the government fights to stabilise a very slippery situation. Now, these unions in question decide that the conditions are right, the time is right to exercise their freedom of choice and freedom to act, now, while the country is reeling and dizzy! One might wonder whatever happened to common sense or at least, team spirit.
However, liberty brings in its purse our human rights and with them, permission to say, "We don't have a choice, therefore we must act." The fundamental problem with freedom, (as glorious as it is) is that everybody's idea of "it" is different! Back in the days when Oliver Twist was just a lad, one could understand the need for strike action to raise issues and bring public attention to them, but here in the UK at least we live in days of the minimum wage, where unless something really underhand and illegal is going on, there is a minimum amount you can lawfully be paid.
This may not be enough for many but it is what it is. Many of the current legions of unemployed would jump at the chance to deliver and sort mail for a minimum wage, although it is likely that most, if not all mail workers are quite some way above this government basic. So, are mail workers to blame or is it the "right to strike" that is the culprit?
In the 1980's there were large scale strikes and industrial action by teachers that disrupted the education system for months on end and in some cases preventing children receiving the basic education we have all come to expect in "free" and wealthy countries. A story was told of a teacher (and surely there were many others) who was so repulsed at the thought of not providing the services (education) they were being paid for, (worthy salary or not) that after one day of striking, joined a non striking union.
Is modern day striking just a glorified form of blackmail in disguise, or are workers genuinely being mistreated and underpaid? Even if workers are being underpaid, where, in this climate of credit crunch are they expecting their pay rises to come from? Surely everyone else deserves a pay rise too? Where does it stop?
This Article has been viewed 768 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Julian, excellent article. In my opinion, I believe much of the problem is due to the general "I deserve this" attitude. We see too much of this type of thinking in the USA also. How did we get here? I certainly don't have that answer, but wouldn't it be nice if we could somehow eliminate it?Hi Joyce, thanks for reading. You are right, I think it boils down to greed and selfishness ultimately. As for eliminating it, I am afraid we are stuck with it unless the human condition changes. Thanks again, Julian
So it is a straight choice between whether it is the posties who are to blame or the right to strike? Nothing at all to do with the continued attacks on the Royal Mail by the government as they attempt to privatise it by stealth? Nothing to do with the bullying management culture that has completely destroyed any will to negotiate? Nothing to do with RM replacing outgoing workers with low-paid temps and fixed-term workers on 0 hour contracts to drive down the wages? That is if they replace them at all, rather than just force fewer and fewer posties to deliver more and more mail. Not even a mention of the fact that Crozier, who has led an already failing Royal Mail into the abyss, is the highest paid public servant in the UK, on 3 million + a year? No no, we'll blame the 20k a year posties, who are clearly just being greedy and selfish, as proven by the fact that they are willing to sacrifice their own bloody wages by striking. Apparently.Thanks for adding some balance to the points in the article, it needed a voice and opinion from both sides of the discussion, which you have provided and it's appreciated. Although the tone of the article may be clearly opposed to any and all kinds of strike action(by anyone, not just postal workers) for reasons of principal, as indicated by mentioning the teachers strike (who suffered in that strike? the kids and their education) it is more a reflection of the timing of the strikes and how the consequences affect everyone in this time of financial crisis, apart from perhaps, Mr Crozier with his "3 million + a year" who even if he loses his job is still going to be rolling in his millions and getting his mail delivered privately if he so wishes. Thanks again for adding vaild and valuable points to these issues, that everyone can now read.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.