Friday, 21 May 2010

The right to strike

The BBC reports:
Fresh BA strikes are set to go ahead next week after a panel of judges overturned a ban on industrial action.

BA was granted an injunction on Monday after the High Court ruled that the Unite union had not reported results of its strike ballot correctly to members.
I don't have much sympathy for the BA cabin crew, or for union members in general, and union bosses are about as vile creatures as you'll find anywhere on the planet, but everyone should have the right to refuse to work, either individually or collectively, provided they don't interfere with those who are willing to work.

The problem at the moment is that we have laws in place to protect striking workers. The days when we had need for labour laws have long since passed. Let the BA cabin crew strike if they want to, and let BA sack them if they do. In the absence of coercion, there's no need or justification for government involvement on either side.

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