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Sadiq Khan
| May 10th, 2016 at 12:09:23 PM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 | He will get my respect if he fires the subway workers the next time they go on their annual strike. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
| May 10th, 2016 at 7:12:50 PM permalink | |
| Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
The mayor of London is usually pretty outspoken about the future of London as a air megahub. London is the busiest municipality by air passengers at it's six airports. Of the top 18 municipalities only Atlanta #4 only has one airport. Many people feel that as Heathrow only has two runways, and Gatwick has only one, that an entirely new airport and high speed rail should be built on the Estuary. 
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| May 11th, 2016 at 9:14:36 AM permalink | |
| Fleastiff Member since: Oct 27, 2012 Threads: 62 Posts: 7831 | So am I, but I have absolutely no funds or power to do anything about it. Nice airport design using present technology. Once they get it built will it be obsolete? Runways that are not needed because planes have become electric and can use short inner city runways? Circular runways of "infinite length" that do not destroy entire neighborhoods or require large expanses of land? Planes that are slowed by a blast of artificial headwind upon landing? Planes that have rotary blades on the leading edge so as to cut lift from 80 percent to zero percent instantaneously, thus ending need for high speed braking? A landing-only runway composed of frangible material which will slow planes in a shorter distance but will be re-usable by multiple planes? |
| May 11th, 2016 at 12:27:16 PM permalink | |
| TheCesspit Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 23 Posts: 1929 |
I don't think he has the power to do that, and also, there is a right to strike for the Unions. Furthermore, you assume that you could easily replace the drivers. The tube strikes are dumb, I'll agree for many reasons. And really annoying if you live there and the city is in turmoil for 24 hours. It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die.... it's called Life |
| May 11th, 2016 at 2:19:41 PM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
Sorry to lead things off topic, and I'll split the thread if necessary, but if there is a right to strike there should also be a right to fire the strikers.
They shut down London for a week the last time I was there. That is why I have such strong feelings about it. I still don't get why Londoners just shrug their shoulders and say, "They do this every year -- we're used to it." Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
| May 11th, 2016 at 2:27:50 PM permalink | |
| Nareed Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 346 Posts: 12545 |
The right to strike implies the strikers do not lose their jobs merely for striking.
I suppose it's because the subway workers strike every year, and the citizenry is used to it. Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER |
| May 11th, 2016 at 2:46:03 PM permalink | |
| TheCesspit Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 23 Posts: 1929 |
Erm, that kinda of removes the right to strike or a protest on job conditions. I'm not a fan of the way the RMT works, or closed shop unions work, but the ability for employees to act in unison against unfair and unsafe working practices, and to negotiate wages, is one way of equalization of the market.
The RMT is fundamentally broken, they can strike with a lot less than fifty percent of the membership voting yes. Bob Crowe is a horrible little man as well. The worst sort of socialist bully boy. There is talk of changing strike legislation. It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die.... it's called Life |
| May 11th, 2016 at 6:37:10 PM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
That may be true, but I'm not good at just accepting things that I don't find efficient or logical. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
| May 11th, 2016 at 6:39:19 PM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
Oh, I agree. But the flip side of that coin has to be that if they push too hard, the employer can seek labor elsewhere.
You seem to know more about it than me. I'd be interested in more backstory to your comment. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
| May 11th, 2016 at 6:53:45 PM permalink | |
| TheCesspit Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 23 Posts: 1929 |
Yes... problem with the entrenched Unions is that you can't even start to hire non-Union staff, and then you have untrained labour. Labour is not a fungible asset. In many cases getting new labour is harder than play tough for a while then accede to the demands.
I dunno when you were over, but there was one strike over a fired shop steward. There's a strike vote at one depot. 33 people (out of a hundred or so) vote. 17 vote yes. Depot is on strike.... and that triggers a vote for a wider strike. In many places less than a third of the union members voted... so often the 'shop' was voting to walk out with under a fifth of the staff voting for it. And once enough shops vote yes, the whole network is closed down. Stupid system. Bob Crow himself was one of the last old guard of Union leaders. Combative, old school socialist (not a social democrat, or liberal democrat, but a real marxist socialist). Just discovered he died in last couple of years. A bully boy, he wouldn't have been too far out of place in mafia style organization, shaking down the workers for his money. It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die.... it's called Life |