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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/13/december-strikes-do-not-signify-new-winter-of-discontent
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| December strikes do not signify new 'winter of discontent' December strikes do not signify new 'winter of discontent' | |
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| Train drivers are refusing to work across southern England, Post Office workers are planning five days of action in the run-up to Christmas and Argos delivery drivers are poised to down their van keys for 72 hours. | Train drivers are refusing to work across southern England, Post Office workers are planning five days of action in the run-up to Christmas and Argos delivery drivers are poised to down their van keys for 72 hours. |
| Headline writers may well examine the current spate of December strikes and draw comparisons to the “winter of discontent”, which helped bring down the Labour government of Jim Callaghan in 1979. | Headline writers may well examine the current spate of December strikes and draw comparisons to the “winter of discontent”, which helped bring down the Labour government of Jim Callaghan in 1979. |
| But while such comparisons are tempting, they would be an exaggeration of the powers of Britain’s unions in 21st century, union officials have said. | But while such comparisons are tempting, they would be an exaggeration of the powers of Britain’s unions in 21st century, union officials have said. |
| Unions no longer have the financial muscle or the volume of members to bring down the government. Employment laws have all but halted widespread wildcat strikes, secondary picketing and public ballots, which characterised the 70s disputes. | Unions no longer have the financial muscle or the volume of members to bring down the government. Employment laws have all but halted widespread wildcat strikes, secondary picketing and public ballots, which characterised the 70s disputes. |
| But in the two higher-profile disputes, union officials believe that employers are forcing through redundancies and changes to the terms of conditions of workers under the guise of technological changes. | But in the two higher-profile disputes, union officials believe that employers are forcing through redundancies and changes to the terms of conditions of workers under the guise of technological changes. |
| The rail strike led by Aslef and the RMT, which has brought the Southern network to a halt and affected 300,000 passengers, was launched because of safety fears over driver-only-operated trains. Despite assurances that that no jobs would be lost, workers fear that the move masks long-term plans to cut staff. | The rail strike led by Aslef and the RMT, which has brought the Southern network to a halt and affected 300,000 passengers, was launched because of safety fears over driver-only-operated trains. Despite assurances that that no jobs would be lost, workers fear that the move masks long-term plans to cut staff. |
| The Communication Workers Union says the Post Office strike, due to begin on 19 December, is, in effect, a fight to save thousands of jobs and pension rights. | The Communication Workers Union says the Post Office strike, due to begin on 19 December, is, in effect, a fight to save thousands of jobs and pension rights. |
| The Argos dispute is different. Observers say it has some parallels with recent disputes involving Sports Direct and Uber in that it involves low-paid workers fighting for basic rights. | The Argos dispute is different. Observers say it has some parallels with recent disputes involving Sports Direct and Uber in that it involves low-paid workers fighting for basic rights. |
| Unite, the union acting for the workers based at the depot near Burton upon Trent, said each driver was owed about £700 in holiday pay dating back at least two years. | Unite, the union acting for the workers based at the depot near Burton upon Trent, said each driver was owed about £700 in holiday pay dating back at least two years. |
| There is real concern within the union movement that the government could use the current series of disputes to initiate a new round of employment laws to further limit the scope of industrial action. | There is real concern within the union movement that the government could use the current series of disputes to initiate a new round of employment laws to further limit the scope of industrial action. |
| The Trade Union Act, which became law in May, imposes a minimum 50% turnout in strike ballots, with key public sector strikes requiring the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote. | The Trade Union Act, which became law in May, imposes a minimum 50% turnout in strike ballots, with key public sector strikes requiring the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote. |
| But ministers were forced to drop plans that would have curbed Labour’s funding by millions of pounds after a defeat in the House of Lords. The original bill proposed a shift from the current system whereby union members have to contract out from paying the political levy to one in which they would have had to opt in. The plan would have given the unions only three months to get a new member’s signature assenting to the levy. | But ministers were forced to drop plans that would have curbed Labour’s funding by millions of pounds after a defeat in the House of Lords. The original bill proposed a shift from the current system whereby union members have to contract out from paying the political levy to one in which they would have had to opt in. The plan would have given the unions only three months to get a new member’s signature assenting to the levy. |
| Ministers said on Tuesday that they had no legal power to halt the rail dispute but were publicly entertaining the idea of changing the law, albeit without offering any detail about how the government might do this. | Ministers said on Tuesday that they had no legal power to halt the rail dispute but were publicly entertaining the idea of changing the law, albeit without offering any detail about how the government might do this. |
| Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, said he would look at all the options when the latest strike was over. He wasn’t “ruling anything in”; he wasn’t “ruling anything out”, either. | Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, said he would look at all the options when the latest strike was over. He wasn’t “ruling anything in”; he wasn’t “ruling anything out”, either. |