It seems according to the 'smart money' that the oil refinery workers at Grangemouth have scored a success.
Their strike if we consider it was about an enduring trade union principle, 'solidarity' the difference with this strike was, solidarity with whom ?
It wasn't a 'sympathy' strike or secondary action because nobody else was out, it wasn't for a pay rise (greedy workers) it wasn't for shorter hrs. (lazy workers) in fact, and here is the principle it wasn't even for themselves. They went on strike to protect the pension rights of workers who have yet to be employed by the company, their future union 'brothers and sisters' The multi national billionaire company wanted to withdraw pension rights from future new employees, lovely people eh ?
The company showed typical capitalist greed, there is no such thing as enough profit when someone can be exploited, that's the law of capitalism, they hoped that the workforce would behave like them and say to hell with who follows us, I'm doing OK let them fight their own battles.
A just cause, a determined workforce and a well organised union and it can still be done. This is at a time when BP and Shell anticipate profits of £68 bn. between them.
I hope other groups of workers will pay attention to what happened at Grangemouth and take encouragement from it, we need to remember that every advance made in this country for workers was as a result of struggle and sacrifice by the Labour and Trade Union Movement, a movement for good and a movement with lots to offer for the future.
We can and must fight back against corporate greed, the unions are still our hope for the future, as the famous Union song goes "there is no power weaker than the feeble power of one, but the Union makes us strong. solidarity for ever" etc. well done Grangemouth workers.
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17 comments:
Indeed for the first time I agree there is power in the people of the union getting rid of socialist parasites like yourself.
Terry:
The employers are greedy and rich. But the employees had a very, very cushy pension scheme. It required no contributions from employees, only from the employer. Now this sort of scheme is in operation in the public sector, but not in the private sector, where wages are lower as well. Private sector workers now pay more in tax to fund public sector pensions then they make contributions to their own schemes.
I don't know how politicians can look private sector workers in the eye, especially the badly-paid ones. Gordon Brown et al have mortgaged our future, and all you hear from the public sector is "please sir, can I have some more?" The rest of us merely have to pay for it.
I don't believe that the plan is owned by BP or Shell - it is a private concern. Some would say that such a sloppy attempt at bringing BP into this is a desperate attempt to tug at heart strings because the logical argument is lost.
The company do not want to "withdraw" pensions. The plan being closed to new members is a very good final salary scheme that also happens to be non-contributory. The company now wants a 2% contribution from new members. To be honest I would bite someones hand off if they offered me that!!! Much better than I am on at the moment.
And so are those workers. Some of those on the picket last weekend earn enough to pay the 40% tax band.
And the reason this is being done is so that a very large amount of cash can be freed up to invest in the plant and facilities therefore ensuring there will be more workers and jobs in the future.
In Italy an airline union has effectively cost the jobs of all its members when they refused to accept an Air France bid for Alitalia. Rather than accept some job losses for a few unfortunates for the greater good they have condemned every worker in that company to guaranteed unemployment. How that is representing the interests of the worker I don't know. And there are some parallels to be drawn with the Grangemouth situation.
(Fidothedog) 02/05/08
A risible and tortuous attempt at being clever. A real dog could do better.
(Rumbold) 02/05/08
Envy and whingeing will get you nowhere.
Follow the example of the Grangemouth strikers ! Nothing’s too good for the workers.
(ShrekBall) 13:32
“I don't believe that the plan is owned by BP or Shell” Did I say it was ?
I used these two topical examples of the obscene profits being made in this industry while the owners continue to exploit workers, why does everything have to be explained to you over and over again ?
The rest of your post conveniently misses out the amount of profit being made which makes it unnecessary for companies to do these things, it’s greed, nothing else.
Rumbold,
I gave up work in the private sector 4 years ago leaving behind a non-contributory pension scheme. I've had one in all my private sector jobs
(six in total).
In the public sector my pension is contributory and as far as I'm aware from talking to older colleagues has been for at least twenty three years.
I have my criticisms of the public sector but this public =bad, private= good mentality doesn't help the debate at all.
Terry:
At the end of the day, someone has to pay the bills.
(Kim Matthews) 04/05/08
As far as this matter is concerned I want every worker to get the very best pension possible, we are far and away able to afford this. Companies making billions and attacking workers pensions is an outrage.
(Rumbold) 04/05/08
When companies are making billions in profit, through the efforts of their workers why should those workers be expected to pay those bills ?
"Companies making billions and attacking workers pensions is an outrage."
Perhaps your outrage would more effective if directed towards the MP for Kirkcaldy and Fife. It was he who raped the pensions schemes in 1997 for his windfall tax that was squandered on policies that have delivered nothing.
Perhaps you should be campaigning for the abolition on the tax on pension fund profits. After all, those profits belong to the members of those funds.
(Kim Matthews) 04/05/08
As far as this matter is concerned I want every worker to get the very best pension possible, we are far and away able to afford this. Companies making billions and attacking workers pensions is an outrage.br/>i>
You won't have to worry about that much longer will you? People like you have made companies move abroad. Workers in certain companies can now have 100% holidays and 100% pensions of nothing. There are no jobs and no pensions if the companies move to another country, and that is what they are doing. Well done oh clever one.
(Serpcio) 12:16
Try to stick to the point, companies making billions can afford good pension schemes for their employees, they are greedy.
(Anonymous) 12:37
Employment is at a record high.
I can’t make it much simpler but you seem to have missed it.
Companies making billions of pounds of profit can afford to provide proper pension schemes for their workers.
People like me destroying jobs wow ! Not international conglomerates, not global capitalism either, did people like me shift Paisley’s mills to Asia ?
Good point Serpico. The man who did more to destroy pensions than any other sits in number 10.
(Serpcio) 12:16
Try to stick to the point, companies making billions can afford good pension schemes for their employees, they are greedy.
That is the point you idiot...no company, no job and certainly no pension.
A certain racing driver from the 70's said they can have 100% of nothing now as he moved to Switzerland, and that same racing driver is just about to go back having returned a few years ago.
It isn't greed, it is self preservation.
(Anonymous) 06/05/08
“That is the point you idiot...no company, no job and certainly no pension”
Here’s the point you idiot, Govt. can legislate in favour workers, it takes political will.
Maintaining a life with millions of pounds while people in your country are poor is not ‘self preservation’ it’s greed.
The racing driver and Switzerland are welcome to each other. The history of Switzerland is one of the most disgraceful of all countries.
Always neutral, always willing to give refuge with their famous banks to any tyrant or fascist regime, any criminal, no questions asked, money, money, money.
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