Redressing the balance

There is an inevitability to public sector strikes that will not go away as long as the unions and militant members are able to strike with little or no impunity. It matters little if anything to them if schools and hospitals are closed down because they never have to face up to the consequences of their selfish actions. Schools will not close nor will hospitals as we cannot desert them in favour of more reliable providers; unemployment is not a possible consequence as it was for the private sector strikers of the 1970s and 1980s. As things are at present the power is entirely with the trade union barons on their six figure salaries and it is long past time this balance was redressed.

On Thursday of this week, schools will close because less than 20% of teachers want to strike. This will cause enormous hardship for many families which could involve them in having to take unpaid leave or purchase additional childcare. The victim of this action is not the government, it is the hard working taxpayer and we need the power to fight back.

I do not propose that strikes in the public sector be banned, rather I would like to see anybody who is adversely affected by public sector strikes be given the right to have their quantifiable losses reimbursed by the trade unions who call the strikes. If you have to forego a day’s pay to look after your child because the teachers are on strike, then you should have the right to demand the union calling the strike pay you the wages you have lost. If as a result of a strike on the public transport systems you are unable to get to work, then you can claim the day’s wages from the union.