Tag Archives: mark serwotka

Opinion: Trade unions, pensions and Labour

I have been following very closely the pensions dispute as it unfolds and one of my concerns is public sector workers could lose a lot of pay through strike action in what I am starting to believe is a political strike which they cannot possibly win.

I am also a little surprised at the way the government have handled things so far and, as a former national union representative, I have been amazed at times by their ineptitude.

Further confirmation I am afraid that the Tories and sadly many in our party don’t understand the real world of industrial relations.

So why do …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged , and | 56 Comments

Opinion: Cable’s GMB speech encapsulated coalition tensions

The Business Secretary Vince Cable’s speech to the GMB annual conference last Monday received significant attention. Some media coverage would have us believe that the senior Lib Dem had brazenly threatened trades unions with serious curbs on their strike powers. In fact, Cable had qualified his brief hint of this possibility with the admission that present circumstances merited no government action.

Within the context of unions’ criticism of government cuts to jobs and services, Cable’s introduction to the table of the possibility of changes to strike law may have been a strategic manoeuvre intended to dissuade industrial action planned …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged and | 13 Comments
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  • expats
    For those in favour of the status quo.. How will the increasing spending on the triple lock be paid for in the long term? The two parties most vociferous in it...
  • Chloe
    Let's get away from the myth of DLR driverless trains..There's a qualified driver in the cab at all times who takes control when the computer makes a demand. Th...
  • Dan Carr
    I commend you Christian for noting what you personally plan to do rather than calling for government regulation to enforce the maintenance of your preferences. ...
  • Jack Meredith
    @Matt (Bristol( WOW, you literally did call it!...
  • PM
    @ Mick, We agree that the triple lock should be maintained . We disagree that the burden should fall mainly on the younger generation. This is what your " w...