O/T:- The NHS strike - for or against?

[DaveSmithRules]

I support the NHS strikers without question. It's fair to say our health service is in a terrible mess. As others have pointed out it's not really about them just asking for more pay. It's about them wanting to work in an environment that isn't fundamentally broken. The Tories and their mates have spent the last 12 years vandalising and robbing our health system - MedPro is just one example. If they had another 12 years in power we'd have a US-style business healthcare system.

[Chicken Balti Pie]

My views on the NHS differ from most. Whilst it is admirable that it is held in such high regard, there are better universal and no payment at service systems out there which we should be looking at. When a big chunk of the NHS budget pays for administration, buildings and maintenance of buildings, if the NHS didn't own the buildings and just paid for the treatment, how much more could be done with the budget?

[Mark_Ross]

You can probably guess my thoughts, but what are yours?

The ultimate generalisation, but here goes:
It's been the same since time immemorial - us (hoi polloi) versus them (hoi oligoi).
The most wealthy/privileged/powerful really only have one weapon against the massed "ordinary" people = division.
[q.v. "The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism" in "Nine**** Eighty-four"]

Hence in principle I think we should try to support the "industrial" actions, even if it goes against our own immediate self interest.

[Old_pie]

Sorry - against.

For 15yrs there has been an independent review body. Both sides should have in the past stuck to their recommendations or otherwise what's the point. Government should offer to backpay in full previous recommendations not fulfilled. Unions should accept and wait for the impending new review.

Simply inflation is going to be the most damaging economic issue that this country faces and whilst lots of workers deserve recognition putting up wages to "match" inflation means we will be chasing inflation again this time next year. Royal Mail and Rail are already in my view pricing themselves out a a business. More than ever this year I've had "virtual" Christmas cards with the promise that monies saved will go to charities.

Anyway don't get drunk and end up in A&E and you'll be fine, providing you don't have a stroke, heart attack or hit by a car.

This country is flucked and I wish I could say "for".

Will the last person standing switch off the lights, if they can find the light switch.

[Magpies1959]

How on earth a nurse on £32,000 needs the use of a food bank I will never know. I been in hospital more times than I care to remember and can tell you not all nurses are great at their job. I found it laughable that any interview of striking NHS staff on Wednesday was hearing them say it was all about staffing levels and patient care and not about their wage demands, what a load of bull. Why do they not call out the countless overpaid unnecessary management jobs, and massively overpaid agency staff.
As someone who has lived most of his working life on the minimum wage in poor conditions, with no sick pay, only four**** days paid holiday and no buck shee pension thrown in, I find it hard to support the strike, given as UTM says most of them would have been on the side of longer harder lockdowns which has caused the mess we are in to a great extent.
There will be millions more in worse financial positions who cannot strike who will be worse off but just get on with life.
At the end of the day the NHS is not fit for purpose and needs massive reform.
The government should take some of the blame for the situation, granted, by not dripping in an inflationary rise, but as I say the 'workers', were quick to point out it is not all about pay. Surely this was said to gain sympathy from the general public.

[PedroTheFisherman66]

Sorry - against.

For 15yrs there has been an independent review body. Both sides should have in the past stuck to their recommendations or otherwise what's the point. Government should offer to backpay in full previous recommendations not fulfilled. Unions should accept and wait for the impending new review.

Simply inflation is going to be the most damaging economic issue that this country faces and whilst lots of workers deserve recognition putting up wages to "match" inflation means we will be chasing inflation again this time next year. Royal Mail and Rail are already in my view pricing themselves out a a business. More than ever this year I've had "virtual" Christmas cards with the promise that monies saved will go to charities.

Anyway don't get drunk and end up in A&E and you'll be fine, providing you don't have a stroke, heart attack or hit by a car.

This country is flucked and I wish I could say "for".

Will the last person standing switch off the lights, if they can find the light switch.

Independent pay panel you say..! It seems it's not so independent after all.
The Tories have been destroying the NHS for over a decade so that it's now not fit for purpose.
Try getting an NHS dentist.
Try getting a sameday doctors appointment
Try going to A & E and having to wait less than 5 hours
Try getting an ambulance without being told its busy and they are upto 8 hours waiting times.
All examples off piss poor service due to miss management but the Ministers come on TV spouting they are spending more money than ever on the NHS without adding that a large portion of that money was spent on Dodgy PPE goods and contracts..!
The systems broke and needs major investment starting with wages

[ThaiPie]

I'm for the right to strike, but against the strikes.

Yes, inflation is 10%, but the majority of this is caused by external factors. So the workers who are prepared to strike are using industrial muscle to get an advantage over the majority in the workforce.

Well, "every one can go on strike" the socialists will say. But if everyone gets a 10% pay rise, then inflation goes up another 10%.

When the country gets richer, no-one complains, but there are times when the country gets poorer, and reform and productivity are the only ways to deserve higher wages.

[Big Bob]

Paid more I say. Especially after the ordeal when covid hit us. Nurses etc were amazing and now get get sh1t on

[Davy500]

And how many teachers do you know?

Your comments regarding holidays etc are way off the mark.

Not heard from you for a while - maybe it's just a coincidence that we have only lost one league game this season?

They do gat more holidays than anybody else, and if a flake off snow falls get more time off

I know enough people over the years , that went to school or university that ended up with poor or low jobs, to know most of what teachers teach is useless , as i said just another money maker to pay for state of the art college buildings and teachers wages etc

I have been on here plenty just recently - its you that have disappeared, or was that when Nolan was there and you said you never watch a match whilst he was manager

[sinophile]

It always amazes me that people swallow Tory bull without questioning it. Why do you think giving pay rises to public sector workers will cause inflation? What will increase in price as a result?

To answer the question about whether supporting NHS strikers, I absolutely do. If you travel almost anywhere in the World you will find people admire the fact that healthcare is provided free of charge when people in the UK need it, regardless of ability to pay. The Tories have always hated the concept and have spent the last 12 years running it down so it can be privatised and owned by multinationals, and charged for by private insurance.