It's past midnight so officially, I have already withdrawn my labour in line with my trade union's ballot decision (UNISON). My first trade union strike was in 1989, when I was a student Engineer in Neath Borough Council. I intended to join a union even though I was only a temporary student, as I had been brought up to do so without question-having mining history in the family tends to leave this impression on you. There was also what was known as a 'closed shop', where I effectively had to join if I wanted to work there. I must admit though to being nervous about the whole dispute and rang my college to see if it was ok to go on strike. There was a pause in the answer on the phone and then came a very clear reply, 'go with the flow boy, go with the flow'. That was my first introduction to union politics.
The strike in 1989 was I believe that first UK wide strike that NALGO had held and the weather was lovely. What a great tan I got from that picket line. Since that date, there have been more than a few occasions when I have been called on by my union to take strike action and I have done so without question. This has nothing to do with me being any kind of militant, but it does mean that I understand the principles of unity and that gives you strength to fight battles worth winning. Without such principles, employees across Wales would have far inferior working conditions.
Today's dispute is for me, by far the most important trade union dispute I have ever engaged in. It is a battle for a dignified retirement, for many individuals who take huge pride in a lifetime's commitment to public service. Most have not earned a great wage, nor will they live in luxury in their final years, but they need and deserve a pension close to what they signed up to when they started their careers. To see them cheated of that dignity in retirement, is price I am not prepared to pay.
I am very proud that my political party (Plaid Cymru) has given its wholehearted support to this dispute but today is not about scoring political points, but about reminding the public of Wales and the UK what services they get from public service employees and above all, how much they rely on them. A slash and burn approach to any pension changes is no way to come to a negotiated settlement, so let's force the UK Government to take a step back, realise that they are going too far and come to a sensible compromise. No-one enjoys withdrawing their Labour, but I'll do it again unless the UK Government is prepared to show a little more respect for the employees of the public sector.
'public of Wales' Havn't heard that one before. LOL!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I find it pretty difficult to support this strike as I work in the private sector and don't have ANY pension at all. Zilch! So, I'm being asked to cough up money...and countless others to support pensions we could only dream of when the 'national' cupboard isn't only bare...but having to borrow billions every month just to stay 'afloat'. To pay for these pensions....they will have to just create money which the UK governments are quite adept at doing and thus devalue the little nest egg I have managed to save. Now I really am worried about my years of retirement if I get there that is.
The unions will still campaign against Plaid and still fund Labour. They are laughing at you and the other Plaid members. In the mean time Plaid are losing their small business and farmer vote just to get a pat on the head by Mark Serwotka.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1. So you think that because you have no pension, then no-one else should have one either? Don't you realise that the consequences of these cuts could well be the collapse of many of these schemes, creating a generation of workers with little or much reduced pension? If so, who do you think will have to pick up the tab to suppliment inadequate pension provision, as will have to be the case with private sector workers. The main problem with the pension system is the lack of provision for the private sector, so why do you have an issue with boosting private sector pensions, rather than collapsing public sctor pensions?
ReplyDeleteAnon 2. We have not been campaigning for the unions, but for their members. The difference maybe a subtle one, but one we recognise. I share your cynicism about the union leadership however. Where is there any evidence that we are damaging our small business of farmers support because of this stance? We are for all of Wales and have no intention of following a British party model of how we should prioritise our agenda. So with respect, I do not agree with you.