make fists with your toes wrote:Interesting, I take your points. Just once more on this though:
Partridge Iciclebubbles wrote:You are right that nobody is forced to work for a company, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t have the right to fight to improve their conditions.
But if I join a company and sign the contract, shouldn't I have to accept the terms of that contract? In my current job (which doesn't have a union), if I was unhappy with my salary or workload and I decided to strike - I'd get the sack. And I don't think that would be an unfair outcome for me. Why should an employee be able to hold an employer hostage?
I realise that again I'm only seeing it from that side of things, but I'm struggling to see it from the other side as the argument just seems to be "people should have the right to strike" - which I don't really understand. Why should people have the right to strike? It's not a universal right that we all have. I can't strike, why should they be able to?
Well my point was that everybody should have the right to strike. But that doesn't (and has never) meant individuals, a strike is when the majority (or at least a big chunk) of the workforce removes their labour, usually as a result of union action. If you are not in a union, then that's your own tough luck, your conditions being bad and you doing nothing about it does not mean other people cannot do it.
So the idea of "an employee holding an employer hostage" doesn't really exist. Lots of employees can do so (although it is not really holding them hostage) but that is usually after a hell of a lot of talks and negotiations between the staff, unions and employer. Strikes should only ever be the last resort.
It might be worth looking up the history of industrial action to see the conditions in which strike action started. Sure we all have it better nowadays, but that is only as the result of the fights and struggles of those workers from 100 years or so ago. Our rights are important and some people absolutely rely on options such as striking, don't give them away for everybody just because you personally don't think you could strike.
Also, terms and conditions of employment change. You might be happy with your contract and salary when you join a company, but 10 years later it might have change beyond all recognition. And there might not be any other jobs to go to or jobs you are qualified to do.