Tories are dedicated partisans of democracy

[ZeroNowhere]

Having been bested by RMT's Bob Crow on this morning's Today programme (http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9468000/9468032.stm), rightwing Tory MP Dominic Raab is to introduce a 10-minute rule bill today in parliament. At the heart of his bill is a proposal to impose further restrictions on the right to strike, finally recognised last month (http://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2011/03/08/right-to-strike-given-a-boost-by-court-of-appeal/) in the court of appeal as a fundamental human right, courtesy of the European Convention on Human Rights.

According to Raab, we need a law that says that if a union wants to go on strike in the transport sector or essential services, it should first have the support of a majority of those eligible to vote in a secret ballot. At the present time, the law requires trade unions to have the support of a majority of those voting, this being the standard method for determining support in any ballot in any organisation the length and breadth of the country.

So, at the general election last year, a Mr Dominic Raab polled 32,134 votes in Esher and Walton (http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/dominic-raab/83496), a constituency of 76,962 electors, more than a quarter of whom did not even bother to vote. Raab's election was not annulled. At the same election, Raab's party polled some 10.7 million votes nationally, with their chumps in arms polling another 6.8 million, in an electorate of some 45 million people. Should the general election be annulled?


Today, I am introducing a proposed Bill in Parliament that would require strikes in the emergency services and transport sectors to carry a majority of support amongst their union members before taking place.

We have seen a range of recent strikes passed on small minorities as low as 20% support. When that happens, the majority of workers are corralled and often intimidated or bullied into supporting strike action, losing pay and undermining their freedom to work. In addition, it inflicts massive disruption on the wider public and economy. The scope for hardline union bosses to wreak chaos is particularly high in the emergency services and transport sectors. My proposals are designed to prevent such abuse and stand up for the hard-working majority.

In Greece, it's an outrage, but it's a principle when convenient. What a brilliant way of attempting to fetter the struggle for working class interests while presenting oneself a representative of the working class. It's a good thing that they're not ultra-Leninists like Bordiga.

[brigadista]

yeah Dominic Raab ...check out his wikipedia entry to find out all about him.
hes never had to work for a minimum wage or go on strike.....


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/16/dominic-raab-conservative-minimum-wage_n_1096803.html

On the day youth unemployment hit the million mark, a Conservative MP has called for the minimum wage to be lifted to help young people gain work.

Dominic Raab said the minimum wage could be "hurting" job prospects of young people, in an article setting out ways to boost growth in the UK.

"Why not suspend the minimum wage for 16 to 21 year olds working for small businesses, in order to give them a foot on the ladder? The talented and hard-working won’t stay on the bottom rung for long, but they must first be given the chance to work."

The Esher and Walton MP also suggested loosening some employment rights to "encourage business to create more jobs overall, by reducing the risk and costs of being burdened with slack or under performing staff."........

It's not the first time Raab's comments have caused controversy - he made headlines in January when he called feminists "obnoxious bigots."

[Charlie Watt]

Another good-for-fuck-all tory wanker blathering shite about something he has never had a bit of first-hand experience in. I would encourage union members to abandon established ones and form their own anyway, but these sort of laws really push that necessity.

[brigadista]

criminalisation of secondary picketing , abolition of the closed shop and the secret ballot were the start of the problem most recently historically - rank and file have to take the power back but im not sure that will happen yet

[Charlie Watt]

Dunno. That spark union looks pretty militant. Sign of things to come?

[bricolage]

Dunno. That spark union looks pretty militant. Sign of things to come?
Sparks isn't a union, it's a rank and file movement amongst Unite members.

[Die Neue Zeit]

criminalisation of secondary picketing , abolition of the closed shop and the secret ballot were the start of the problem most recently historically - rank and file have to take the power back but im not sure that will happen yet

How exactly is the abolition of the closed shop a bad thing?

[dodger]

Another good-for-fuck-all tory wanker blathering shite about something he has never had a bit of first-hand experience in. I would encourage union members to abandon established ones and form their own anyway, but these sort of laws really push that necessity.

Charlie...we did abandon our unions when strike action would have meant swinging fines. We held strikes in the name of the STEAK and KIDNEY PUDDING CLUB on the London tube. The powers that be were pulling their hair out. RESOUNDING SUCCESS.......NORMAL SERVICES WILL BE RESUMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and we "REJOINED" OUR UNIONS. The RMT has broken connection with the LABOUR PARTY....(they slung us out)....they said we lacked sophistication!! That 'lefty' turd LIVINGSTON....told union members to cross picket lines when we were fighting for our survival after the privatized company Metronet went bankrupt ...pensions too were involved. we beat him AND FORCED HIM TO TAKE US BACK UNDER STATE CONTROL WITH ALL BENEFITS AND SAFETY MEASURES INTACT. gobshite...is that still a term of endearment north of the border? ....no guaranee we wont ressurect the steak and kidney club again if that tory freak has his way. We expect little from her majesty's loyal opposition!!

[Hit The North]

How exactly is the abolition of the closed shop a bad thing?

Um, because it undermined the strength of unionisation in the work place?

[Charlie Watt]

Charlie...we did abandon our unions when strike action would have meant swinging fines. We held strikes in the name of the STEAK and KIDNEY PUDDING CLUB on the London tube. The powers that be were pulling their hair out. RESOUNDING SUCCESS.......NORMAL SERVICES WILL BE RESUMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and we "REJOINED" OUR UNIONS. The RMT has broken connection with the LABOUR PARTY....(they slung us out)....they said we lacked sophistication!! That 'lefty' turd LIVINGSTON....told union members to cross picket lines when we were fighting for our survival after the privatized company Metronet went bankrupt ...pensions too were involved. we beat him AND FORCED HIM TO TAKE US BACK UNDER STATE CONTROL WITH ALL BENEFITS AND SAFETY MEASURES INTACT. gobshite...is that still a term of endearment north of the border? ....no guaranee we wont ressurect the steak and kidney club again if that tory freak has his way. We expect little from her majesty's loyal opposition!!

I'd have went a bit stronger than gobshite for "red" Ken, but aye, that about covers it. And given that Ed Milliband would personally strangle pensioners if he thought it would get him elected, you're right not to put your trust in Labour. But well done on your previous action, mate, truly.

[Die Neue Zeit]

Um, because it undermined the strength of unionisation in the work place?

I think you've confused closed shops with union shops:

http://www.revleft.com/vb/closed-shops-union-t155203/index.html

[Hit The North]

I think you've confused closed shops with union shops:

http://www.revleft.com/vb/closed-shops-union-t155203/index.html

You are the one who is confused. comrade. A closed shop is an arrangement whereby employers agree to only hire unionised labour.

Link (http://www.emplaw.co.uk/lawguide?startpage=data/093002.htm)

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ The mentality behind them is similar to anti-sentiments redirected towards anti-immigrant sentiments.

Instead, there should be agitation for universal agency-shop representation/service, replacing "universal unionization," and based on the educative premise of... the wholesale absorption of all private-sector collective bargaining representation into free and universal legal services by independent government agencies acting in good faith and subjecting their employees to full-time compensation being at or slightly lower than the median equivalent for professional and other skilled workers.


In Greece, it's an outrage, but it's a principle when convenient. What a brilliant way of attempting to fetter the struggle for working class interests while presenting oneself a representative of the working class. It's a good thing that they're not ultra-Leninists like Bordiga.

I'm a bit conflicted about this subject of eligible voters vs. votes cast. My concern is with mass strike waves initiated by a slight majority of voting workers but with low turnout. That's minoritarian, something the left-com strategy doesn't take into account.

Perhaps I'm not, since one or the other isn't universally applied.

[bricolage]

^^^ The mentality behind them is similar to anti-sentiments redirected towards anti-immigrant sentiments.
No it's not.
/end discussion.