Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

the comet will apparently be visible for the next 2 weeks

http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN0KJ0EJ20150110?irpc=932
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party said it would introduce tough strike laws for some public service workers if it wins the general election in May, prompting anger from unions, which called the proposals an affront to democracy.

Under the Conservatives' plans announced on Saturday, a strike involving health, transport, education or fire service workers would require the backing of at least 40 percent of eligible union members to be legal.

The move comes after a series of strikes last year by public sector employees, including teachers and firefighters, and stoppages by rail workers on London's underground train network that caused chaos for millions of commuters.

Many of these strikes would have fallen foul of the new proposals. Cameron has previously argued industrial action without proper backing was unjustified.

"A strike in the public sector affects many people who have no chance and exercise no authority over that strike whatsoever," Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told BBC Radio. "So before it takes place it ought to have the support of at least 40 percent of the members that trade union."

Better to make it 51% for all strikes.

"Labour accused the Conservatives of "playing political games with the unions.""

I love that line! Of course Labour wouldn't for one minute be playing political games with the problems in the NHS.

Another helping hand for unscrupulous employers by their mates and employee bashing party/Government.

It should be 51% and the workers who vote against strike action shouldn't have to run the gauntlet of picket lines every time they turn up for work.

It should be a straight majority and employees should abide by the vote result.

The trouble is that very few vote in strike ballots. Therefore a straight majority of those voting is not representative. Secondly, the unions don't ballot for each strike. They may get a majority of the few who vote, but then use that result for later strikes claiming a mandate for more strikes which are sometimes a year later. There are plenty of union members who don't want to strike, these rule changes will make it more difficult for the minority of activists to disrupt people's lives.

why is it unreasonable to insist that 40% of the membership have to vote for strike action before it is can be taken legally?

and surely a "straight majority" = >50%

by the way, why should employees be forced to join a union, though thank goodness that is less widespread than it used to be?

equally, why cannot a member "voice" his opposition to a strike by refusing to abide by it?

It is funny that legislation has been brought in to control the disruptive power of the unions and no Labour government has ever repealed a single law. A number of Labour governments have tried and failed to curb the power of unions. The Labour Minister Barbara Castle made a major attempt to modernise industrial relations. She published a white paper called "In place of Strife". She couldn't get it passed by the Labour government. Secretly Labour are very pleased that the Conservatives do the job for them. You will wait a very long time before Labour give back any powers to the unions.

Thanks Ed - Cannot run a piss up in a brewery. Noticed this one slipped the labour voters on here. I bet the old folk and the very poor who cannot heat their homes would like a word in his ear. I bet dear Ed is sitting in front of a one bar fire worrying about the bill. He is not fit to run the country.




Ed Miliband's energy prices plan 'keeps bills high': Families should have seen a £140 reduction but Big Six haven't passed on savings amid fear over freeze policy
Experts say firms aren't cutting household bills before the election
Say it is down to Labour promise to freeze prices if they win office
Some estimates say families should have seen bills fall by £140
Comes as the price of crude oil had plummeted to below $50 a barrel




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2904189/Ed-Miliband-s-energy-prices-plan-keeps-bills-high-Families-seen-140-reduction-Big-Six-haven-t-passed-savings-amid-fear-freeze-policy.html

Q. What is wrong with this?

Ed Miliband has pledged to raise the minimum wage to £8 by 2020

A. A report by an ex Labour cabinet minister, Alan Milburn, showed that with inflation the minimum wage would be £8.23 by 2020. Miliband's figure implies a lower rate of growth than 1999 to 2014. So Miliband's minimum wage would end up being a drop in the minimum wage!

Most Unions get a bigger turn out than the Tories did for the last GE and most Unions get a bigger % vote for strike action than CHUBBY DAVE did not to win the last GE.

Talk about double standards.

AND its only since women have started working in such big numbers that this apathy as come into Union Voting.

A lot of women just working to subsidise there husbands (white van man) wage each month.

In fact there husbands tell them not to strike.

Pathetic situation.

LABOUR IN THE LEAD AND CHUBBY DAVE DAREN'T GO ON STAGE (chicken)

In the first week back there have been seven polls. The regular weekly Ashcroft poll hasn’t fired up yet, and none of the phone pollsters did fieldwork over the first weekend of the year, but the daily YouGov and twice-weekly Populus polls are off:

Opinium/Observer (2/1/15) – CON 32%, LAB 33%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 17%, GRN 4%
Populus (4/1/15) – CON 34%, LAB 35%, LDEM 9%, UKIP 12%, GRN 5%
YouGov/Sun (5/1/15) – CON 31%, LAB 34%, LDEM 7%, UKIP 14%, GRN 8%
YouGov/Sun (6/1/15) – CON 33%, LAB 33%, LDEM 7%, UKIP 13%, GRN 8%
YouGov/Sun (7/1/15) – CON 32%, LAB 33%, LDEM 7%, UKIP 15%, GRN 7%
YouGov/Sun (8/1/15) – CON 33%, LAB 33%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 13%, GRN 7%
Populus (8/1/15) – CON 33%, LAB 34%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 14%, GRN 6%

I think it would be sensible to only have UK governments, which represent 50+ percent of the voters wishes and registered, "possibly", or one based on MPs elected by proportional representation.

Also, that the corruption funds (sorry party donations) are on a proportional amount according to party membership not rich daddies.

============------

gf
You missed this part from the above poll details

"All the polls so far are showing a tight race, with the Labour party averaging a very small lead – the current UKPollingReport average has CON 33%, LAB 34%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 14%, GRN 6%."

and this

"Election Forecast – Hung Parliament, CON 284, LAB 281, LD 26, SNP 34, UKIP 3
Elections Etc – Hung Parliament, CON 294, LAB 297, LD 29, OTH 30
May 2015 – Hung Parliament, CON 273, LAB 281, LD 24, SNP 46, UKIP 3"

As you can see the figures are very close. It is significant that UKIP is predicted to have just 3 MPs. That is not a balance of power. The Libs look like getting plenty of seats, which is what I expect

Haze,

You seem to be becoming more of an inconsistent wandering Willy.

A few weeks ago you were writing the election polls meant little and of no importance.

Are you becoming as inconsistent and dodgy as your lord and master Wavy Dave.

All of those polls you highlighted Haystack = end of dave...fooked!


And, of course, none of them take into account the shifting seat scenario caused by tactical voting vis-à-vis UKIP.


Don't you understand, lots of people, like me, wont vote for the same old bullshit as offered by the big three...it's gone, had enough, no more!

A straight majority is all that is required just like Local and General Elections for Councillors or MP's.

The only reason we get Right wing outfits like the "Con" and Blue Labour Governments constantly high jacking the voting system is because they want to help their unscrupulous employer mates force down wages and conditions.