Why aren't strikes illegal?

[elster]

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

[Airbag]

elster said:

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

Are you serious?

Is your next question "why aren't unions illegal?"?

[elster]

Airbag said:

elster said:

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

Are you serious?

Is your next question "why aren't unions illegal?"?

Yes I'm serious. By definition a strike is blackmail, blackmail is illegal.

I have no problem with a Union if you have a problem they can help you, but striking is my particular point. As it is blackmail.

[Road Pest]

Some are, wasn't the BA one cancelled by the courts?

[TheEnd]

Road Pest said:

Some are, wasn't the BA one cancelled by the courts?

That was because of the ballot, so there are rules on what you need to start a strike.
Some services like the police can't strike.

[johnfm]

Elster, are you having a st Xmas? You should be bursting with turkey, Xmas pudding and booze!

But, you are right. Very fine line between strike and blackmail.

Not much difference between union controlled labour and the mob controlled labour in the US!

[Baby Huey]

Workers have the right to withdraw labour.

If there hadn't been strikes in the past the OP would probably be working today.

[elster]

johnfm said:

Elster, are you having a st Xmas? You should be bursting with turkey, Xmas pudding and booze!

But, you are right. Very fine line between strike and blackmail.

Not much difference between union controlled labour and the mob controlled labour in the US!

I have had to spend the day speaking French and my French sucks, so yes is the short answer.

[johnfm]

elster said:

johnfm said:

Elster, are you having a st Xmas? You should be bursting with turkey, Xmas pudding and booze!

But, you are right. Very fine line between strike and blackmail.

Not much difference between union controlled labour and the mob controlled labour in the US!

I have had to spend the day speaking French and my French sucks, so yes is the short answer.

Por quoi?

[spud989]

OP - go to politicalcompass.org and take their test. If you don't support the right to strike that should put you in hilarious territory.

[tzfan]

johnfm said:

Por quoi?

C'est 'pourquoi'

[elster]

johnfm said:

elster said:

johnfm said:

Elster, are you having a st Xmas? You should be bursting with turkey, Xmas pudding and booze!

But, you are right. Very fine line between strike and blackmail.

Not much difference between union controlled labour and the mob controlled labour in the US!

I have had to spend the day speaking French and my French sucks, so yes is the short answer.

Por quoi?

In France at my parents, spent lunch and afternoon with all the villagers. They no speaky the English.

[NoNeed]

elster said:

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

Would you rather your whole work force left and went to the competition for a few quid more causing damage to your business?
or
show you they arn't happy and are prepared to leave giving you the chance to keep them?

[Jon C]

Have you asked that question of any of the locals in the bar? I imagine the residents of rural France have an 'interesting' take on that debate...

[elster]

NoNeed said:

elster said:

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

Would you rather your whole work force left and went to the competition for a few quid more causing damage to your business?
or
show you they arn't happy and are prepared to leave giving you the chance to keep them?

Which is blackmail though. They agree a contract and work to that. You want a pay rise, you ask your boss. He says no, you find another job. No one else willing to pay you anymore you are receiving what you are worth. Forcing a company to give you a payrise, especially when they can't afford it, by refusing to work will never be good in the long run. Personally I find it disgusting to think the whole hostage attitude is acceptable.

[elster]

Jon C said:

Have you asked that question of any of the locals in the bar? I imagine the residents of rural France have an 'interesting' take on that debate...

One man is employed by Air France, he stopped working 3 years ago but is on a 7 year contract. There was no need for his job anymore, but is still under contract. So has to work.

There are a lot of workshy people around here.

Then there is the other end of the scale with the locals who do just enough work to provide food, leave their houses to fall down and repair when broken. However have good family values. Completely different priorities.

[jamoor]

elster said:

NoNeed said:

elster said:

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

Would you rather your whole work force left and went to the competition for a few quid more causing damage to your business?
or
show you they arn't happy and are prepared to leave giving you the chance to keep them?

Which is blackmail though. They agree a contract and work to that. You want a pay rise, you ask your boss. He says no, you find another job. No one else willing to pay you anymore you are receiving what you are worth. Forcing a company to give you a payrise, especially when they can't afford it, by refusing to work will never be good in the long run. Personally I find it disgusting to think the whole hostage attitude is acceptable.

This, "if you don't like it - leave"

[NoNeed]

elster said:

NoNeed said:

elster said:

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

Would you rather your whole work force left and went to the competition for a few quid more causing damage to your business?
or
show you they arn't happy and are prepared to leave giving you the chance to keep them?

Which is blackmail though. They agree a contract and work to that. You want a pay rise, you ask your boss. He says no, you find another job. No one else willing to pay you anymore you are receiving what you are worth. Forcing a company to give you a payrise, especially when they can't afford it, by refusing to work will never be good in the long run. Personally I find it disgusting to think the whole hostage attitude is acceptable.

I would totally agree if that were the case every time. But sometimes as we know a very profitable company will do one over it's employees in order to penny pinch.
Greed can work both ways I tend to try and Identify the greedy party before taking any particular side.

[elster]

NoNeed said:

elster said:

NoNeed said:

elster said:

A strike is surely just blackmail, so why isn't it illegal?

You have a contract of employment for a period, when that changes you are offered a new one, or bugger off.

Why is blackmail illegal, yet striking not?

Would you rather your whole work force left and went to the competition for a few quid more causing damage to your business?
or
show you they arn't happy and are prepared to leave giving you the chance to keep them?

Which is blackmail though. They agree a contract and work to that. You want a pay rise, you ask your boss. He says no, you find another job. No one else willing to pay you anymore you are receiving what you are worth. Forcing a company to give you a payrise, especially when they can't afford it, by refusing to work will never be good in the long run. Personally I find it disgusting to think the whole hostage attitude is acceptable.

I would totally agree if that were the case every time. But sometimes as we know a very profitable company will do one over it's employees in order to penny pinch.
Greed can work both ways I tend to try and Identify the greedy party before taking any particular side.

This is where the union goes to ACAS, not strike.

[tzfan]

elster said:

Jon C said:

Have you asked that question of any of the locals in the bar? I imagine the residents of rural France have an 'interesting' take on that debate...

One man is employed by Air France, he stopped working 3 years ago but is on a 7 year contract. There was no need for his job anymore, but is still under contract. So has to work.

There are a lot of workshy people around here.

Then there is the other end of the scale with the locals who do just enough work to provide food, leave their houses to fall down and repair when broken. However have good family values. Completely different priorities.

In France, especially with the public sector workers, the idea of a hard day's work is to turn up on time (mostly) and take a 2 hour lunch break and then an early dart. If you think the UK is overrun by bureaucracy you ought to see it here. The work ethic is not strong with the majority of people, the only real exception to this is the self-employed sector who are usually a bunch of rip-off artists if they can get away with it.

Other than that, it's great here!