Everybody Out

Jonathan Jarvis said:

The proposed rail strike got me thinking. Why don't we have many private sector strikes in the UK anymore? Are private sector workers content with their lot nowadays?

Mind you the efficacy of striking has always been puzzling to me, when occupation of the employer's premises always seemed more effective (denying them the chance to bring in scabs).

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The unions have had their wings clips since the Miners' strike.

I think a worker should have the right to withhold labour, but also think about the long term effects of their protest.

I wasn't aware strike action was legal for the private sector. But then I've never really thought about it.
Our anti-strike laws are some of the strongest in the western world, and are set only to become stronger.

I'm not really sure striking works any more, nothing seems to come of it apart from backlash from the public against unions.

I'm not really sure how non-unionised workers would initiate action. How would it be coordinated?

There's a proposed rail strike? That's going to be interesting in the office, guess there'll be plenty of people working from home while that goes on...

Strikes are difficult to organise, and really should only be undertaken as a genuine last resort. Those who participate can find themselves marked for it, and those who don't can find themselves growing increasingly frustrated. Those outside of it can lose sympathy very quickly if the reasons appear trivial to them. They're a rather complicated thing to do well.