While I’m on the theme of strikes, todays papers say 8,000 British Gas fitters have voted to go on strike over bullying by management. The BBC say the union haven’t told British Gas what the dispute is about although it seems a bit improbable. The GMB website says the workers are being pressurised to provide customer satisfaction and in contradiction cut costs and says that is bullying.
Standing at a distance it seems another case of a union bringing out its sledgehammer over what seems a minor issue although a large number have voted in support. Are the unions taking advantage of this period before the general election because they think the government will try and sort it behind the scenes rather than it appearing to be another 1979 winter of discontent. Union leaders and politicians scent weakness and like to make the most of it.