Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Not just on the laws, but on the growing inequality, the war, the 42 days detention, pensions and everything, this Government has not just ignored the unions but taken delight in doing so because they think it proves they're not Old Labour. And it's the unions' own fault for refusing to modernise. Instead of giving the Labour Party millions and expecting protection for their members they should hand over 50 grand and demand a peerage. Because you can't keep living in the past.
Yet somehow, no matter how much the unions are battered about by Labour, they keep handing over their money. But the areas where unions have defied the trend and grown has been where they're seen to be defending the workforce in the traditional fashion. The teachers' unions recruited members following the recent strike, the journalists' union has had some success, and the railworkers' union has doubled its membership in London, as a result of throughly "old-fashioned" methods, including having a union leader, Bob Crow, who's so traditional he often gets his words magnificently tangled.
During a dispute about tea-breaks he appeared on London regional news to say: "It has got to the point where some of my members are no longer allowed out for a urination." That's a proper union leader.
The Unions get all there money back in the form of a "Modernisation Grant " which we , the tax payer stump up ,so its not that hard to hand the cash over. The problem with the Unions is that now include only 18% of the work force and almost exclusively in non profitable public sector .
There interests are opposed to the majority of working people who are obliged to pay for the special treatment they get for historical reasons . Take Firemen for example who have fought against the addition of medical attention to their duties .They have almost nothing to do and they are spectacularly over paid .
In the real world they would be out of business.I think the entire country views the spectacle of a special interest group buying Policies not so much for cash ( which they get back) but for cooperation , with amazement .
Milliband has entered the lists I see.Might be your sort of a chap Bob he is signed up to tax raising and is quite a bit more leftish than he sounds
Sorry Bob but I put Mark Steel high on my little list of journos who never would be missed. Like Alexei Sayle, Mark has made a very comfortable living by being an angry comedian railing against the world and all its faults whilst offering nothing positive in return. But, unlike Mr Sayle, Mr Steel has never had the good grace to acknowledge the absurdity of his position....
Yes, Brian, I see what you mean. However, unlike Lexi I find Mark Steel has that essential quality for a comedian... he is occasionally funny.
If we are relying on comedians to be offering positive suggestions we will probably be waiting a long time. I mean, just look at Boris Johnson for example.
July 30, 2008 9:22 AM | permalink
The Unions get all there money back in the form of a "Modernisation Grant " which we , the tax payer stump up ,so its not that hard to hand the cash over. The problem with the Unions is that now include only 18% of the work force and almost exclusively in non profitable public sector .
There interests are opposed to the majority of working people who are obliged to pay for the special treatment they get for historical reasons . Take Firemen for example who have fought against the addition of medical attention to their duties .They have almost nothing to do and they are spectacularly over paid .
In the real world they would be out of business.I think the entire country views the spectacle of a special interest group buying Policies not so much for cash ( which they get back) but for cooperation , with amazement .
Milliband has entered the lists I see.Might be your sort of a chap Bob he is signed up to tax raising and is quite a bit more leftish than he sounds