The Unions and the Olympics
Discussion
Really annoyed by this:
"...Industrial action against government cuts could be timed to disrupt the London 2012 Olympics, the leader of Britain's largest union has said.
Len McCluskey, of the Unite union, also called for civil disobedience during the Games to defend public services.
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr McCluskey said his union had discussed the possibility of strike action but there were currently no plans in place.
Conservative co-chairman Baroness Warsi said she was "shocked" by his comments.
Mr McCluskey said: "If the Olympics provide us with an opportunity, then that's exactly one that we should be looking at."
The union boss added: "The attacks that are being launched on public sector workers at the moment are so deep and ideological that the idea the world should arrive in London and have these wonderful Olympic Games as though everything is nice and rosy in the garden is unthinkable.
"Our very way of life is being attacked. By then this crazy Health and Social Care Bill may have been passed, so we are looking at the privatisation of our National Health Service.
"I believe the unions, and the general community, have got every right to be out protesting."
Mr McCluskey said the purpose of protest was "to bring your grievances to the attention of as many people as possible".
Baroness Warsi said it was "an appalling display of naked self-interest" - and called on the Labour leader to intervene.
"The London Olympics will be a great occasion for this country. It is disgraceful for a trade union boss to be calling for mass disruption when the eyes of the world will be on Britain," she said.
"I am shocked that Unite would sink so low as to spoil this great national event for everyone else. Ed Miliband must urgently order his union cronies to rule out disrupting the Olympics."
Shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said no athlete or visitor would understand or sympathise with any disruption.
She said: "If this is a negotiation it should take place in private. Unions and employers should get together and sort it out without threats or disruption to Britain's Olympics."
Your comments (30)
"...Industrial action against government cuts could be timed to disrupt the London 2012 Olympics, the leader of Britain's largest union has said.
Len McCluskey, of the Unite union, also called for civil disobedience during the Games to defend public services.
In an interview with the Guardian, Mr McCluskey said his union had discussed the possibility of strike action but there were currently no plans in place.
Conservative co-chairman Baroness Warsi said she was "shocked" by his comments.
Mr McCluskey said: "If the Olympics provide us with an opportunity, then that's exactly one that we should be looking at."
The union boss added: "The attacks that are being launched on public sector workers at the moment are so deep and ideological that the idea the world should arrive in London and have these wonderful Olympic Games as though everything is nice and rosy in the garden is unthinkable.
"Our very way of life is being attacked. By then this crazy Health and Social Care Bill may have been passed, so we are looking at the privatisation of our National Health Service.
"I believe the unions, and the general community, have got every right to be out protesting."
Mr McCluskey said the purpose of protest was "to bring your grievances to the attention of as many people as possible".
Baroness Warsi said it was "an appalling display of naked self-interest" - and called on the Labour leader to intervene.
"The London Olympics will be a great occasion for this country. It is disgraceful for a trade union boss to be calling for mass disruption when the eyes of the world will be on Britain," she said.
"I am shocked that Unite would sink so low as to spoil this great national event for everyone else. Ed Miliband must urgently order his union cronies to rule out disrupting the Olympics."
Shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said no athlete or visitor would understand or sympathise with any disruption.
She said: "If this is a negotiation it should take place in private. Unions and employers should get together and sort it out without threats or disruption to Britain's Olympics."
Your comments (30)
I was stunned when I heard this on the news this morning. I'm no great fan of the Olympics but anybody who proposes disrupting them for purely selfish political reasons should be tried for treason for the damage they would do to this countries reputation and world standing (such as it is today). If found guilty they should be hung, drawn and quartered (we can still do that can't we - oh go on, please, just this once).
In all seriousness - another union leader showing he doesn't live in the real world. I hope his members let him know what an idiot he's being.
In all seriousness - another union leader showing he doesn't live in the real world. I hope his members let him know what an idiot he's being.
A nice clear display of the true mindset of the unions. Spoil anything that other people think is 'nice', with no gain for themselves. Truly despicable.
As it is, I'm not in favour of the Olympics and never have been. I'd happily leave every union leader and the whole of Locog in a small room and let them fight it out between themselves. In fact, I'd provide knuckle-dusters and baseball bats and maybe some bicycle chains for them to use and pay to watch ...
Oli.
As it is, I'm not in favour of the Olympics and never have been. I'd happily leave every union leader and the whole of Locog in a small room and let them fight it out between themselves. In fact, I'd provide knuckle-dusters and baseball bats and maybe some bicycle chains for them to use and pay to watch ...
Oli.
I wonder if this is related to Boris aiming a shot at the transport unions - whether it's a real threat or just flexing a bit of muscle to stop them from causing trouble during the Olympics.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/bori...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/bori...
Didn't someone get 4 years for inciting unrest on Twitter during the riots?
This is far more direct and credible as well as being more widely reported, so the sentence should be stronger.
All civil unrest will do during the olympics is make us look like a bunch of w
kers on the global stage.
This is far more direct and credible as well as being more widely reported, so the sentence should be stronger.
All civil unrest will do during the olympics is make us look like a bunch of w
kers on the global stage.williamp said:
"...Industrial action against government cuts could be timed to disrupt the London 2012 Olympics, the leader of Britain's largest union has said.
I suspect this is also the thoughts of terrorist leaders throughout the world - Len, you are just another Osama incarnation TW@TMX7 said:
shauniebabes said:
The Olympics will cause far greater disruption to the lives of ordinary working people than the other way round. London will become a police state for two weeks.
Of course it will....
Having said that I was absolutely furious listening to the radio this morning. Apparently they want "ordinary people" to go and protest. Well I for one would be delighted to after the staunch support of public sector workers going out on strike in disgust at our pensions being raided, our mass redundancies and pay freezes. Oh.
This will be the end of the labour unions in this country. You might argue the whole thing is being orchestrated with that goal in mind, but intentional or otherwise, that will be the outcome.
The Soviets had a name for westerners who unwittingly did the work of Soviet agents.... they called them "Useful Idiots"
Ironically most of the KGB's useful idiots in the UK were union leaders (although some of them were actually being paid and not unwitting in the slightest, such as Jack Jones). Now they are doing the work of the global corporatists they despise, by destroying themselves. Cretins.
The Soviets had a name for westerners who unwittingly did the work of Soviet agents.... they called them "Useful Idiots"
Ironically most of the KGB's useful idiots in the UK were union leaders (although some of them were actually being paid and not unwitting in the slightest, such as Jack Jones). Now they are doing the work of the global corporatists they despise, by destroying themselves. Cretins.
MX7 said:
shauniebabes said:
The Olympics will cause far greater disruption to the lives of ordinary working people than the other way round. London will become a police state for two weeks.
Of course it will....
All major roads shut to all but VIPs, massive restrictions on liberty.
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