Steph did a blog about France jailing some basque separtists It got me thinking about how and why they'd jail them and got me thinking back to my old days on the good old Royal Mail. I drew this connection because much of what I did in my final years there was the result of a fair degree of industrial struggle. It involved a shed load of unofficial industrial action, which long story short, resulted in a deal. A deal that enabled the job to move forward, saved a bit of face and enabling those who'd had enough to move on with a £ note in their pocket. The deal itself was pretty shitty in the grand scheme of things, but was better than what could have happened.
The backdrop to this was that prior to all this there had been a weak agreement negotiated, management then sought to dictate all manner of new terms and conditions, taking an aggressive stance with various people on the job. Initially people were reluctant to resist. They were subjected to a moody agreement negotiated by weak union reps that basically left them in a pretty difficult position. Certain members of the local management team saw this an opportunity to settle a few old scores and so the path was set..3 long years of walk outs and private tragedies, eventually resulting in a settlement that gave the illusion of progress. Had the people who worked there not have resisted, had they rolled over, then most would have been sacked, and those that weren't would have ended up with far worse conditions and their dignity stripped.
For me it was an important lesson. I learnt that a. you can't achieve change through imposition and b. you dont get nothing for nothing, you have to fight tooth and nail for anything worth having.
When you think about it and look at the workplace today, you might be forgiven for thinking that all manner of terms and benefits are just a natural part of the process.The stresses of the modern workplace can be bad enough, but can you imagine working without things like annual leave entitlement, uniform, sick pay, holiday pay, reasonable working hours, lunch breaks and any number of other things you'd come to take for granted? To think of a workplace without these things is almost crazy, dont you think? Yet a few short years back they simply didn't exist. It gives some idea of the type of society that pre industrial britain was when you read things like in 1776 a South Shields postman was executed for stealing a letter containing two £50 notes from Newcastle Post office yes that's right hanged! The onset of the Industrial revolution, the need for labour and the radicalisation of work set against a backdrop of virtually no rights and the thoughts of Adam Smith et al gave rise to all manner of radical groups determined to fight for a better share of the pie and minimum rights. Its bizarre to think that Trade Unions were actually Illegal in Britain for a large part of the 19th century and were'nt really given any legal status or protection until 1871.
Companies today like to brag about the benefits they offer their staff as it makes them look good of course. They want their employees to see them as a benevolent employer. Even government likes to get in on the act. The shorter working week and the minimum wage are two recent examples where people like Blair or Brown have extolled the virtues of a Labour Governement.
No mention is made of the lobbying that goes on. No reference is made at all to the fact that many labour MP's are sponsored by trade unions.No mention is given to the fact that unions do expect something back for their membership and that their membership forms a large part of the community of this country.
Government, the Labour Party even, would like us to believe that they are a really nice bunch of chaps and chappeses who have the best interests of hard working people at heart. They wan't people to think that it is they who give people things like a health service free at the point of delievery. Pension rights, Free education, Public services, Benefits for the unemployed and those who can't work, Public housing and transport.
Its good to remind oneself that such a position is bollocks.
Every single right we have today, was hard fought on the back of struggle and resistance to something that was unfair or unjust.Everything.
You don't get something for nothing. I think its a good thing to remember that.