They never learn.

This should be a great time for the railways and their workers with both parties pledging to spend more money on green public transport.

Instead of showing the public they can be responsible and trusted they decide to try and bring down the government this is political at a time our economy is in real trouble.

All this will do is ensure that the government legislates against them and just like the miners and the dockers they will see their power fade.

Bringing on themselves and if they think the public will be sympathetic I doubt it.

One more point

Define working-class.

The rise over the years in the living standards of the population is due to many factors, not least the success of capitalism, trade unions played a part in this but not exclusively.

Damaging the industries that pay the wages does not help those working in the industry. Many strikes also have a political agenda behind them.

What is your agenda - apart from wanting Russia to win its wars and extend its dictatorial rule of course.

Edited by georgenorman (12 Jun 2022 9.19am)

On a point specific basis rather than 'left or right', I do think both you and george have valid aspects in what you say here. I've always found it to be counter to the interest of the masses for the public to sneer at and admonish everything from protest to trade unions. All it ever results in is power being taken away from the people. While I don't always agree with the actions of trade unions, in a game rigged towards corporations and those in power they hold clear people orientated purpose. As with anything the people end up being turned against each other, often along political lines, in order to make useless or controversial something that is of benefit to all.

There is definitely some truth to that too. They do themselves few favours at time and there is a big hit to public support each time that happens. Efforts to make unions less powerful over time likely contribute in terms of how unions behave. It's a shame the right balance can't be struck as at their core they are worker orientated in a wider environment where very little is.

Well they are ridiculously over-paid, aren't they.

If it was NHS I would storm the barricades but this lot can get lost.

Scrap HS2.

Sunak and the tories give the people your tax hike back, pilferers.

Good luck indeed, as the union rep said on LBC just now, if other workers want 50k a year, organise and join a union!Perhaps pay parity with those in the square mile-even though they don"t carry the responsibility of hundreds of peoples lives on each train!