Minimum level of service for strikers.

[Workingman]

When it comes to public services I do not have a problem with this, in principle.... depending upon how it is achieved.

It does not (should not) stop members from striking, just not all at once. They can still stike to get their point(s) across, but the public still gets some sort of guaranteed minimum service. After all, it is we who pay, not the government.

I actually thought that this was already in place following such things as the fire service and civil service strikes of earlier times.

[Suff]

Only a Tory government would bring it in. Maggie did for secondary picketing after the Miners and the Firemen striking. But she didn't go for a mandatory level of guaranteed minimum service.

Looks like we'll get it now though. Once it goes through it will be unlikely for it to be repealed.

Since Maggie, until Boris won his majority, the Tories were never strong enough to make this stick. Now they are and it is in the manifesto.

[Workingman]

Oh, it will be repealed, Labour have said so. The next Labour or Lab / Lib Dem coalition government will ensure it is so. They could also bring in PR so that the excesses of the current version of Conservatism is never reenacted.

Conservarives are their own worst enemies.

[medsec222]

I fully agree that it should be mandatory for a basic level of service to be provided with essential services such as doctors, nursing, fire service, ambulance etc. I am not sure why anyone within these professions would object to the provision of a basic level of service, as they will still have the right to withdraw their labour. They are the caring professions and whatever the reason for dispute they still need to care for the people they serve. It should be written into the contract of anyone joining these professions. Those who are not happy with such conditions are always free to seek other forms of employment.

[Suff]

When Labour win the next election, Inflation is still going to be running high and the disparity between wage rises and inflation is going to be ever larger.

The unions will expect Labour to just borrow money and pay whatever they ask. When it doesn't happen the strikes are going to be even worse.

In the middle of severe strikes, Labour will not repeal that law.

[Kaz]

The ambulance strikers have categorically stated that any one of them on a picket line would immediately leave the picket to attend a life or death situation. They join up to save lives, not put them at risk. What has put lives at risk has been 13 years of deliberate underfunding. Legislation to deny workers the right to withdraw their Labour is a very slippery slope indeed. Allowing employers to sack strikers as they are mooting?! God almighty, what next

[Workingman]

There is a loose consensus among other crystal ball gazers such as the BoE, ONS, NIESR, BCC, the Banks, Forbes, Hargreaves Lansdown, and so on, that inflation will start to drop in the summer and will continue next year, even as low as 3.9%.

Labour will repeal the legislation should it get through... not guaranteed.

Kaz, you get it, but then you are not a Faragista Tory ERG Boris moron, unlike some.

[Suff]

The ambulance strikers have categorically stated that any one of them on a picket line would immediately leave the picket to attend a life or death situation.

Right, so the difference between sitting in a vehicle, dressed to respond, get the call on the radio in the vehicle and GO. As opposed to getting off the picket line, into the building, change, get to a vehicle, safety check the vehicle and then leave?

Who is kidding whom?

When I had my heart attack Mrs S drove me the 3 minutes to the hospital as she didn't want to waste any more time in getting me there. Apparently I nearly died. I'm not convinced of that but the GP seems to be. I'm just trying to imagine how these ambulance drivers would live up to that promise in a meaningful way.

I'm not saying they didn't sign up to save lives. I'm sure they did. But they have put that principle aside to try and force the government to give them more money. I was in the forces. Different bargain, you sign up to lay your own life down in the protection of others should the call come. Forces are not allowed to strike, they get jailed for that for 6 months and then summarily thrown out with a bad reference (dishonourable discharge).

Sorry my own view of this doesn't match yours but I have a different filter.

[Workingman]

Who is kidding whom?

You are kidding yourself - your filter is wrong.

Teams are ready to go when a shout comes in. They are not all physically 'on the picket line', those who would be on shift are kitted out and ready to go on life-threatening calls, same as normal.

I have family members and neighbours doing the job and your second sentence is a work of fiction.

I was also in the forces and manned a Green Goddess in Stafford during the fire service strikes. We were on the Weston Rd roundabout some 50 yards from the main fire station. Those fire fighters might have been on strke but they were ready to go if a major shout came in. As ready as at any other time.

[Suff]

Already ambulance services are stretched in some places and at certain times.

Anyone not on shift who should be on shift and it is an issue.

There are services where you either go with the negotiated wage structure or go find another job. If enough people leave then a review needs to be done.

I have never had a union or strike mentality. Add critical services to that and you can double the view.

It is my viewpoint and it is not going to change. Sorry.