I have a political background. My father was Director of Press and Communications for a former Prime Minister and so I have, unsurprisingly, quite strong political leanings. However, although my parents were of one political persuasion, I didn't adopt the same ideas without first figuring out if I actually believed in, and agreed with them. It is for this reason, that I want to put a question out there and actually discover what other people think.
In short, many teachers in the United Kingdom are going on strike today in order to raise awareness and protest against planned cuts and changes to their pensions. This situation is not unique to teachers. Many workers in the public sector are facing potential pension cuts - unsurprising in the current economical climate and also unsurprising given that generations are now living for longer and this hasn't been planned for.
The world isn't fair. It isn't right that many workers are under-valued. It isn't right that hard earned money gets taken and often mis-spent. It isn't right that careful future planning gets reduced.
Equally, it's wrong to be selfish and arrogant enough to go on strike because in doing so you are saying, "you're wrong, but I'm going to counter your wrong by doing something bad myself." You're saying "what I want is worth more than what you want" and also "my happiness is more important than yours." In striking you're depriving people - children as well as adults, from 1 person to 1 million people - of a service that they also 'deserve' in order to make your point.
In essence, you're putting yourself and what you want or believe you deserve, above the wants and needs of those you have been entrusted with the responsibility of serving and that is wrong. Even if you're being paid for it, in providing a service - whatever that may be - you are serving and with-holding that for your own gain is as wrong as the injustices you're trying to fight.
Taking away a child's education, even for a day, is not right. The same applies to tube workers or any other organisation who plan strikes. Do those people who strike think they are better than everyone else and deserve more attention than everyone else? Do they believe that depriving others of the service they are usually paid to provide will really reap reward? Is there a viable alternative?
Protests are different to strikes. A (peaceful) protest is a much better way of getting your voice heard - one which doesn't disgruntle other people to achieve your own personal rewards.
The only exception I can see to any of the above is if you are striking for others - 19th century protests against child labour for instance - and changing the perception of the world for the better, when those in power lose sight of what is right in favour of profit or more power. Sadly, very few strikes of this nature, if any, occur any more - we have become accustomed to a fairly selfish culture.
The world is never going to be a fair place. I think that's an acknowledgement most will, if begrudgingly, accept. But I don't think that putting yourself above others can ever have a truly positive impact.
So that's my take on it; click here for another take on it.
Which brings me to my question. What's your take on it?
Much love,
xx
Thursday, 30 June 2011
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One of the sad things is that going on strike will degrade the already decreasing esteem with which teachers are held.
ReplyDeleteIt's also interesting that very few actually voted to go on strike as a percentage of union members, but they all come under intense pressure to 'support' the people on strike by joining it. Britain in the 21st century is not in the Thatcher era any longer, there isn't a groundswell of support for people going on strike.
The general public, I think, sees it a grossly unfair that they should have a worse pension, into which they have paid considerably more of their salary, than their child's striking teacher.
I strongly believe that teachers are under-valued & under-paid. I believe they're made to jump through unneccessary hoops, worked to the bone and for little recognition either financial or otherwise. I also believe in democracy. But I don't think any group should be able to hold the government hostage. Confused.com
ReplyDeleteOne of the strike based tweets I read today (courtesy of the BBC):
ReplyDelete"Met Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson: 90% of police staff who handle public calls have not turned up for work as part of #strike
How can that be acceptable? As it stands Police Officers are not allowed to strike, however Police Staff can. This is where I have a problem, the police call centres are the first line of communication between the police and public, with essential staff striking, who is available to take the 999 calls...especially in our modern society where we rely on these people to keep us safe.
According to the MET they are having to bring in other staff to supervise while many staff are off, however the equipment is too far advanced for the public, In some cases Police Officers are being pulled off the streets to help in the call centres.
I have to say I agree with you on this one!
I agree with you. More and more bitterness is aroused in those who work in the private sector as they see their own ever-increasing taxes going for ever-increasing salaries of those who work in government-subsidized jobs. It is a huge problem in the US, too. Unions have way too much power and influence in our state and federal governments, and they constantly want more and more of taxpayers' money for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think people need to think of different tactics rather than strikes to accomplish change. That will probably have to differ per sector. I used to be a teacher and being undervalued is definitely a problem for teachers. But maybe organising an educational project for politicians and the general public would be more helpful and would create more understanding than going on strike would.
ReplyDeleteCreating understanding is something that workers going on strike need to work out carefully. In my city public transportation has been shut down for four days in total now - one day each month. Which means that every month on one day I can't get to work, and clients can often not reach us for their exams. I have absolutely zero understanding left (why not transport people for free instead??) as there seems to be no end to the monthly strikes, and yet public transport keeps getting more and more expensive. In the meantime these strikes only make people think of ways to live without depending on public transport (and I'm considering buying a car again).
You probably know this, but in Germany public sector workers like teachers are not allowed to strike and by joining the profession you are agreeing not to. Do you think they should make public sector strikes illegal in the UK?
ReplyDeleteHowever, Germany's neighbour France regularly sees public sector strikes. One of my friends did his year abroad as part of his degree at a university there and part of the requirement to pass the year was to attend a certain percentage of lectures. The lecturers and other university staff were on strike so much that he was physically unable to meet that percentage and had to argue a good case for his UK university to accept that it wasn't his fault that he hadn't attended enough lectures...
I don't know what I think about the whole issue but I thought I would throw those two points out into the ether...
Blue Eyes xx
I'm not sure they should make it illegal. If, for instance, they were forcing teachers to beat children, strike action would be wholly necessary. An extreme example but I hope it demonstrates my point. If their motive is themselves, then it's completely wrong. I'm sure their must be occasions though when the motive can be right, I've just never seen an example of this!
ReplyDelete