Following the high profile campaign of Unite in its conflict with British Airways there are now other companies including British Gas where the threat of strikes loom.
What is it with the union culture, are they led by egotistical union management who like to flex their muscles and show their membership that they are worth their vast wages?
Or maybe there really is unfairness on part of the companies such as British Airways in their treatment of staff?
A straw pole of people we have spoken with suggest that the majority of people do not support the strikers who in many cases are very well paid, not forgetting the 4 million plus “economically inactive” people of working age who do not have a job.
In today’s world of employment legislation to protect the worker, and the increased flexibility for people to move jobs, do we really need unions to “fight the cause” of the worker? Moreover should such workers going on strike have the right to disrupt the lives of other hard working individuals through what some might see as a selfish action?
Jobs for life are no more, the vast majority of the working population will change jobs several times during their careers, so do we really need a protectionist and outdated union culture to stand up for “the worker”?
Going back to the specific case of British Airways. The industry is hugely competitive and has undergone major change with the increase in low cost flights, it is clear the British Airways has to change its cost base, and sadly that will mean some redundancies, changes to working practices, etc. Simply going on strike, disrupting the lives of many ordinary people and damaging the UK economy does not seem to be a sensible approach.
To make matters worse our political system is affected by those who “sponsor” parties through “political donations”, as such the recipients of the donations are not in a position to act without bias against the hands that feed them – in this case the unions.
Lets hope common sense will soon prevail, if not the unions will gradually sink the British economy.
