General Strike? Would you join?
Discussion
I don't generally have much sympathy for unions and people going on strike demanding that the government give them better jobs. But it seems to be a feature of life under Labour governments sooner or later, and it might be the best way to get rid of Brown. According to Newsnight, this lots http://www.britishwildcats.com/ are talking about a general strike on the 27th of February. Couldn't find anything about it on their site though.
Would you join it? And why, or why not?
Would you join it? And why, or why not?
"The Problem!
John Smith started the day early:
Having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 a.m., while his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was percolating, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG).
He put on a shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and trainers (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric Grill (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with petrol (from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying BRITISH JOB.
At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (Made In Malaysia), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in Britain!
Welcome to Globalization!"
And that's the reason to strike?
John Smith started the day early:
Having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 a.m., while his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was percolating, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG).
He put on a shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and trainers (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric Grill (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with petrol (from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying BRITISH JOB.
At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (Made In Malaysia), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in Britain!
Welcome to Globalization!"
And that's the reason to strike?
As mentioned above, its just Globalisation, and so many British workers have not caught up to this idea yet ...
Work in an office in the City of London, what is the percentage of British to other nationalities in ... say the IT Department, or Accounts, or Finance?
In the catering industry its mostly oversees people working too.
Yet go to other countries and you will regularly find throughout Asia (for example as its one that i know) you will regularly find Brits in Senior management, you will regularly see Brits that have set up their own service companies to these big corporate, staffed by many brits. etc etc etc.
The world is no longer British Jobs for British People, German Jobs fro German People, Russian Jobs for Russian People, Malaysian Jobs for Malaysian People, French jobs for .... ok ... perhaps the French are a bad example here
We now live in a global marketplace, people need to learn to look further afield for work and careers, especially if they want to succeed. May not be nice, but its the way the world has become, why?? because these people themselves wanted all those nice fancy telly's etc at cheapest costs and so on and so on.
Enough testiculation from me, no i would not strike.
Work in an office in the City of London, what is the percentage of British to other nationalities in ... say the IT Department, or Accounts, or Finance?
In the catering industry its mostly oversees people working too.
Yet go to other countries and you will regularly find throughout Asia (for example as its one that i know) you will regularly find Brits in Senior management, you will regularly see Brits that have set up their own service companies to these big corporate, staffed by many brits. etc etc etc.
The world is no longer British Jobs for British People, German Jobs fro German People, Russian Jobs for Russian People, Malaysian Jobs for Malaysian People, French jobs for .... ok ... perhaps the French are a bad example here
We now live in a global marketplace, people need to learn to look further afield for work and careers, especially if they want to succeed. May not be nice, but its the way the world has become, why?? because these people themselves wanted all those nice fancy telly's etc at cheapest costs and so on and so on.
Enough testiculation from me, no i would not strike.
Agree with you there XJS John. I think there's a bit of a problem with the way this has been dumped on people in Britain though. I actually thing many people are not even aware that anyone from the EU can come to live and work in Britain, and compete for jobs in Britain, without a work permit or anything. Or that they can do the same.
Personally I think that's a good thing anyway, and value the ability to live anywhere in the EU. Suspect I might be in a minority though.
Still see the strike as a good way to get at the government anyway.
Personally I think that's a good thing anyway, and value the ability to live anywhere in the EU. Suspect I might be in a minority though.
Still see the strike as a good way to get at the government anyway.
TheEnd said:
"The Problem!
John Smith started the day early:
Having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 a.m., while his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was percolating, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG).
He put on a shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and trainers (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric Grill (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with petrol (from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying BRITISH JOB.
At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (Made In Malaysia), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in Britain!
Welcome to Globalization!"
And that's the reason to strike?
And all of the above sold by a businessman in Britain... "Britain, a nation of shopkeepers"....John Smith started the day early:
Having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 a.m., while his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was percolating, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG).
He put on a shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and trainers (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric Grill (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with petrol (from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying BRITISH JOB.
At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (Made In Malaysia), John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can’t find a good paying job in Britain!
Welcome to Globalization!"
And that's the reason to strike?
AJS- said:
Still see the strike as a good way to get at the government anyway.
I voted with my feet along time ago, and used my globalisation driven rights to bugger off to another country and another continent to work. One big plus that us Brits have to remember is that unlike many countries (America especially) we do not get hit for double tax. Most Yanks out here have to pay full US tax on any (all, bonus, benefits, packages etc) income over a certain threshold, and its not that high either! (the level at which they have to pay taxes in the US too that is)
There are a lot of good things to being an oversees Brit.
Edited by XJSJohn on Tuesday 3rd February 00:40
Blib said:
No. 'Coz there's only me in my business and I'd look a right tit picketing myself and shouting 'scab' as I went into my home office.
I would be in the same boat - although I do have 2 staff but they are engineers working on site, maybe I could get the other half to shout at me while I walk accross the garden to the office!Pissed myself reading that post - nice one
XJSJohn said:
I voted with my feet along time ago, and used my globalisation driven rights to bugger off to another country and another continent to work.
One big plus that us Brits have to remember is that unlike many countries (America especially) we do not get hit for double tax. Most Yanks out here have to pay full US tax on any (all, bonus, benefits, packages etc) income over a certain threshold, and its not that high either! (the level at which they have to pay taxes in the US too that is)
There are a lot of good things to being an oversees Brit.
Well said, and like you, I voted with my feet too amd left the UK.One big plus that us Brits have to remember is that unlike many countries (America especially) we do not get hit for double tax. Most Yanks out here have to pay full US tax on any (all, bonus, benefits, packages etc) income over a certain threshold, and its not that high either! (the level at which they have to pay taxes in the US too that is)
There are a lot of good things to being an oversees Brit.
yorky500 said:
XJSJohn said:
I voted with my feet along time ago, and used my globalisation driven rights to bugger off to another country and another continent to work.
One big plus that us Brits have to remember is that unlike many countries (America especially) we do not get hit for double tax. Most Yanks out here have to pay full US tax on any (all, bonus, benefits, packages etc) income over a certain threshold, and its not that high either! (the level at which they have to pay taxes in the US too that is)
There are a lot of good things to being an oversees Brit.
Well said, and like you, I voted with my feet too amd left the UK.One big plus that us Brits have to remember is that unlike many countries (America especially) we do not get hit for double tax. Most Yanks out here have to pay full US tax on any (all, bonus, benefits, packages etc) income over a certain threshold, and its not that high either! (the level at which they have to pay taxes in the US too that is)
There are a lot of good things to being an oversees Brit.
- Snap* same same here
phumy said:
yorky500 said:
XJSJohn said:
I voted with my feet along time ago, and used my globalisation driven rights to bugger off to another country and another continent to work.
One big plus that us Brits have to remember is that unlike many countries (America especially) we do not get hit for double tax. Most Yanks out here have to pay full US tax on any (all, bonus, benefits, packages etc) income over a certain threshold, and its not that high either! (the level at which they have to pay taxes in the US too that is)
There are a lot of good things to being an oversees Brit.
Well said, and like you, I voted with my feet too amd left the UK.One big plus that us Brits have to remember is that unlike many countries (America especially) we do not get hit for double tax. Most Yanks out here have to pay full US tax on any (all, bonus, benefits, packages etc) income over a certain threshold, and its not that high either! (the level at which they have to pay taxes in the US too that is)
There are a lot of good things to being an oversees Brit.
- Snap* same same here
I'd be happy to go back but with the way the country has turned out, it's going to be a loooooooooong time.
Agreed. Perhaps I could barricade myself in. 
Now where do I get hold of flaming oildrums?XJSJohn said:
As mentioned above, its just Globalisation, and so many British workers have not caught up to this idea yet ...
Perhaps when all of those supplying the things we have to pay for whether we like it or not - food, shelter, heating, transportation - catch up to the idea of globalizaton and start charging us prices that are in line with those of developing countries, then we will be able to accept wages that are in line with those of developing countries.Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff