How a union is going to ruin Christmas for some

[Codo]

In Germany (and I guess in many part of the Western world, but what do I know) the gap between rich and poor is getting bigger and the unions getting weaker and we have nearly no strikes any more.

 

It is possible, that this is just luck, but I can see a correlation between these facts.

 

I am on the right side of this scissor, but I still hate this development.

 

So if the formerly too big influence of the unions in GB is getting lower, I do understand a strike at christmas. After all, you want all the publicity that you can get, won't you?

[shyams]

After all, you want all the publicity that you can get, won't you?

I think the Unions need to ensure they get all the publicity and the sympathy of the general public.

 

About 2 yrs ago there was a strike by the Fire Brigade staff which generated widespread sympathy from the public at large. In BA's case, I'd guess there is little sympathy...

[Winstonm]

Alert the media, I more or less agree with Winston here. Although he probably will not agree with what I am about to say. With regard to the railroad strike that I referred to, I never even learned the issues. My father was a carpenter, an uncle was a miner, I grew up with the idea that unions were a good thing. Now older, I see unions as the flip side of capitalism. Has every capitalist venture been good for society? No, not really. Is capitalism a good way to run the economy? Yes, I think so. Replace capitalism by organized labor and the answers don't change. On both sides the close-ups are not always pretty.

 

I know nothing about the specifics of BA or its unions. I get the idea, maybe false, that unions are somewhat more of a drain on the UK economy than they are here.

Ken,

 

I agree with all you say 100%, but I am surprised you think I would not agree. That must mean I have not presented my cases well. I have a tendency to take the opposite side of an issue that is being presented from a single side as my basic world view is one of grays with little or maybe even no black and white issues at all.

 

 

I think you say it well. IMO, at its core, unregulated, capitalism is simply law of the jungle, survival of the fittest - that is not a moral judgment of capitalism but a simply expression of its nature, and an argument why it needs to be regulated.

 

At the same time, untoward influence of pure proletarian interests can threaten the entire work-providing organism with death. Put me in the Karate Kid Kategory: Balance is Key.