I wanted to write about my home city, currently enjoying national glory via the Commonwealth Games. Everone Brummie is here. Lenny Henry, Julie Walters, Ozzie, Duran Duran etc. But…
I’m fed up with trade union leaders like Mick Lynch, who are using the Games to blackmail the government and the nation by calling on its relatively well-paid members (train drivers earn c.£59k pa) to stop the public getting to the Games and anywhere else for that matter. Similarly, BT and other trade union leaders are calling for a General Strike, not seen here since 1926. There’s simply no comparison between then and now. After WWI, high demand for coal and slowness to modernise the industry led to massive unemployment and real hardship. But now? During lockdown, paying everyone furlough wages plus supply chain disruption was bound to leave the economy with inflation. Every day, the media reports that advanced economies around the world are all dealing with similar problems. Strikes should only ever be used as a last resort, when workers are absolutely desperate. So, why are senior Labour Party officials like John McDonnell calling for a General Strike now? It’s greed, stupidity and self-aggrandisement - a bullish approach to the rest of us on much lower incomes….
Here’s the amazing, snorting bull at the opening ceremony of the Games in Birmingham. Seems appropriate somehow.
I’m fed up with trade union leaders like Mick Lynch, who are using the Games to blackmail the government and the nation by calling on its relatively well-paid members (train drivers earn c.£59k pa) to stop the public getting to the Games and anywhere else for that matter. Similarly, BT and other trade union leaders are calling for a General Strike, not seen here since 1926. There’s simply no comparison between then and now. After WWI, high demand for coal and slowness to modernise the industry led to massive unemployment and real hardship. But now? During lockdown, paying everyone furlough wages plus supply chain disruption was bound to leave the economy with inflation. Every day, the media reports that advanced economies around the world are all dealing with similar problems. Strikes should only ever be used as a last resort, when workers are absolutely desperate. So, why are senior Labour Party officials like John McDonnell calling for a General Strike now? It’s greed, stupidity and self-aggrandisement - a bullish approach to the rest of us on much lower incomes….
Here’s the amazing, snorting bull at the opening ceremony of the Games in Birmingham. Seems appropriate somehow.
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