Tuesday
A 365 day per year strike of course, but I suppose that is too much to hope for.
Tens of thousands of civil servants of sundry favours are walking out in all manner of protests at plans to cut the vast throng of half a million or so people employed by the state by a paltry 80,000.
Yes, I realise those people will get paid for the time they are off the job but I wonder what might happen if folks noticed that the world did not come to an end just because chunks of the state stopped working? Perhaps people might actually get used to the idea of living without them.
More and faster, please.
Rule Britannia!
I hope you lead by example again. I am looking forward to seeing our American bureaucrats on strike, too.
Posted by Katherine at February 18, 2004 03:11 AM
How does someone get paid when they are on strike can someone explain that to me? Surely when one side of a contract fails to deliver, the other side withholds payment.
Posted by Jonathan L at February 18, 2004 07:02 AM
Jonathan L: the lefties wrote the law so that striking is a "right" while actually getting the work you paid for, is not.
Posted by Julian Morrison at February 18, 2004 08:34 AM
No, you knee-jerking whatsits, you are wrong.
Even in the UK, people who strike do not get paid. It counts as "unauthorised absence".
I suppose the public sector might be different, but I don't think so.
Calm down everyone.
Posted by Andrew Duffin at February 18, 2004 12:09 PM
I was rather under the impression they got paid by their union.
Posted by Perry de Havilland at February 18, 2004 12:58 PM
Not to mention it is seriously cutting down waiting time at the post office, since there are no Giro books to cash! Woohoo!
Posted by RightGirl at February 18, 2004 01:36 PM
Even while still paying them, you could save money. Think of the market crushing regulations that aren't being promulgated or at least delayed. Think of your money they could be spending but aren't - though they'll probably catch up on that.
Enjoy your freedom - while it lasts.
Posted by Larry Blue at February 18, 2004 04:51 PM
It reminds me of when Clinton shut down the 'non-essential' US Federal government for a few days over the budget.
It taught us two things -- how large the 'non-essential' government was, and how truly non-essential it was.
Posted by Phelps at February 18, 2004 05:16 PM
I remember reading that when the GOP had its budget fight with Clinton back in the 1990s when Newt Gingricht led the House, the U.S. Federal Govt. temporarily closed down and - surprise! - nobody noticed any difference to the efficiency of said govt.
enough said.
Posted by Johnathan Pearce at February 18, 2004 05:17 PM
