percentages

When I was growing up I hated the whole ‘do as I say not do as I do’ thing. It just made no sense to me.

When I was a step parent lo and behold there I was saying and doing. Hypocrite? Maybe, but there are times when what is right for some people isn’t right for other people, knowing the time is what being a parent is all about. 

Paternalism. 

I am guessing that is what is going through the minds of the conservative party as they consider their latest changes to employment law. (of course the cynics out there would be saying that the proposed changes are nothing more than an attack on unions and the rights of workers. They would be right).

Spurred on by the recent National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (rmt) London tube strikes over the closure of ticket offices (though cynics out there might claim that the strike was nothing more than staking a claim for bob crow’s empty office and big wage packet. They would probably be right). the Tories have decided that they are going to bring in legislation that means that a strike action can only take place in ‘essential services’ if unions can show that 50% of the membership have participated in the vote.

On the face of it perfectly reasonable. 

It could be argued that privatising ‘essential services’ was a pretty stupid thing to do in the first place if you were that concerned about them. However, as we know, ideology trumps commonsense every time with the Tories. 

Part of the rationale behind the new legislation is going to be ‘we won’t be bullied and held to ransom’ line of thought. So the Tories have to stand up to them and show them who is boss (yes cynics this is probably boris Johnson showing how tough he can be – so he’ll make a lovely prime minister). Oddly this isn’t the line taken when it comes to the city finance mob who are always bullying and holding people to ransom when it comes to their pay and bonuses. ‘oh if you are beastly to us we will go somewhere else’, ‘you will, oh ok then we’ll bend over and you can take us roughly from behind’.

 Now as much as the rmt’s strike was a bit of a nuisance most people coped with it. sure some shops and businesses lost some trade on those days, I doubt very much if the money not spent there wasn’t spent somewhere else, or just a couple of days later. While the financial crash has cost untold billions and caused distress and worry for a good deal many more people and for a great deal longer. 

Even though the financial sector is ‘essential’ what it needs is to be free of regulation.

Odd that. 

The interesting thing is the potential unintended consequence of this legislation. 50% you say. good idea, sorry boris you can’t be mayor not enough of the electorate voted. I am sure there are going to be a number of members of the European parliament who would be upset at losing out of that trough to put their snouts in. what about the local councils. Or the police commissioners?

Let’s be honest if 50% is good enough for the unions it has to be good enough for every other elected position that service the public good (which I would argue counts as an essential service). Somehow I don’t see that happening.

But then the Tories are the do as I say not do as I do party.