Intelligence....

[funkymonkey2]

I wouldn't consider new negotiations a fail and he IS attempting to divide the union - he said so himself. Oh and 95% of closed schools in Scotland. Kind of suggests that people could be bothered??

[Alah]

I wouldn't consider new negotiations a fail and he IS attempting to divide the union - he said so himself. Oh and 95% of closed schools in Scotland. Kind of suggests that people could be bothered??

And is that something to be proud of! I think most would be say a big fat no when the truth is people could be bothered to use it as an excuse to have a day off. Somewhere up to 2 million people on strike. Yet only tens of thousands of people turned up to marches and protests. Hardly really embracing the point of the strike is it?

It's no coincidence cities across the whole country experienced one of their busiest shopping days.

David Cameron can attempt whatever he wants. I like many others have made my opinion myself! The strikers will look for any excuse why they dont have the support of the public. Blame it on big bad Cameron. Perhaps we're just being realists.

[funkymonkey2]

I've already explained - people rather stay away from workplace as not to antagonise their fellow workers. I know a vast majority of teachers up here were at rallies in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Remember - many have families too so maybe not appropriate to take young children on a mass march? Of course people are going to take it as a duvet day but remember - they do not get paid. They all lose a day's wages - on the run up to Christmas I believe they'd much rather be earning, don't you?

Looking at BBC polls - majority of public overall were in favour of strikes, majority of young people at 78% and the retired least at 46%

[jmc]

and the guardians 80% of people were behind the strike

[Alah]

I've already explained - people rather stay away from workplace as not to antagonise their fellow workers. I know a vast majority of teachers up here were at rallies in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Remember - many have families too so maybe not appropriate to take young children on a mass march? Of course people are going to take it as a duvet day but remember - they do not get paid. They all lose a day's wages - on the run up to Christmas I believe they'd much rather be earning, don't you?

Looking at BBC polls - majority of public overall were in favour of strikes, majority of young people at 78% and the retired least at 46%

That is such a rediculous cop out. Oh yeah 2 million of us striked, but we didnt want to attend picket lines to antagonise fellow workers. If the schools were close then what fellow workers were there? We're talking less than 5% turning up for the pickets and marches.

Like I said, its a pathetic cop out! People just using it as an excuse for a day off!

You could cite polls until you are blue in the face. But from my first hand experience the majority have been against it. Every forum ive been on, every Facebook argument ive seen blow up about it. The majority was against it! The only people for it are the people looking to gain. And as I said before, their attempts have been less than half assed.

[Alah]

Looking at BBC polls - majority of public overall were in favour of strikes, majority of young people at 78% and the retired least at 46%

Also your 'glance' at the polls appears to be flawed. You cant just pick the highest percentage of one particular group and make out like thats a figure for across the board!

YouGov (which is a member of the British Polling Council) and have done a lot more indepth polling than the BBC has and have found - "around 35%-40% support the strikes, 49%-55% oppose them."

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/ar...tegory/strikes

[Ric Barnes]

I've been keeping out of this because I'm too busy. Though I do have my opinions from both sides, in general I don't really give a shit about the issue as I stand my own corner fair and square without any assistance, if I don't work I don't earn and I have nobody to complain to if the work dries up which it often does. I'm responsible for my own pension and don't expect it to be controlled by the government. Workers, whether public or private sector should all manage their own future with prudent use of their incomes.

Now I'm trying to remain impartial here, but one thing that really bugs me is the 'we provide a valuable service to the community' bullshit. Well yeah, that's the occupation you chose. I work too and provide services also, just less directly to the general public but to an important sector of industry which we all rely upon in the modern world.

I don't see any suitably valid reasons for the futile striking that occured yesterday.......Anyway, keep this chat going, it's been a good read so far albeit rather boring.

[Zonino]

I wouldn't consider new negotiations a fail and he IS attempting to divide the union - he said so himself. Oh and 95% of closed schools in Scotland. Kind of suggests that people could be bothered??

Bit odd that it's 95% of Scottish Schools (and almost all Welsh), but only 2/3rds across Britain as a whole, suggested less than half of English schools, which suggests that walkouts are closely aligned with political motivations, namely government opposition voting civil servants more likely to walk out than conservative/liberals. If this was about the issues it purports to be about, you would not expect to see such a coincidental parralel but a more even figure across all territories.

But hey, it's not a union powerplay at all...

[funkymonkey2]

That is such a rediculous cop out. Oh yeah 2 million of us striked, but we didnt want to attend picket lines to antagonise fellow workers. If the schools were close then what fellow workers were there? We're talking less than 5% turning up for the pickets and marches.

Like I said, its a pathetic cop out! People just using it as an excuse for a day off!

You could cite polls until you are blue in the face. But from my first hand experience the majority have been against it. Every forum ive been on, every Facebook argument ive seen blow up about it. The majority was against it! The only people for it are the people looking to gain. And as I said before, their attempts have been less than half assed.

Out policy was, if you are part of your union and your union voted for strike, do so but lose your pay. If you abstained from voting or are not a member of the union, sign in when you come to work otherwise lose pay and you have no backing from unions when it comes to disciplinary action. Most people I know that did go into work, WERE booed at the picket line but the cowards covered their faces with hats and scarves. They then clyped to everyone else exactly who was in.

[Alah]

Out policy was, if you are part of your union and your union voted for strike, do so but lose your pay. If you abstained from voting or are not a member of the union, sign in when you come to work otherwise lose pay and you have no backing from unions when it comes to disciplinary action. Most people I know that did go into work, WERE booed at the picket line but the cowards covered their faces with hats and scarves. They then clyped to everyone else exactly who was in.

Your policy was, here is a free day off to get our xmas shopping done and the next day we'll wake up with better pensions. As I said, Fail.