The Right To Strike
The police are to be balloted over the right to strike. They don’t currently have the right to strike, which is as it should be. If the police had the right to strike, they could very easily hold the government to ransom as the very fact that they are on strike would undoubtedly cause a break-down of law and order, on which modern society is reliant.
Police officers must not have the right to strike, whether or not they want it. Frankly, this should extend to all people directly employed by the state - policemen, civil servants, prison officers, doctors, teachers, the lot. If you take your pay cheque directly from the government, you should not have the right to strike for any reason. Don’t think you’re getting paid enough? Argue for more, put pressure in any way you like, such as only doing what is required of you in your contract, but no full-out striking. Really don’t think you’re not getting paid enough or whatever and the government won’t give in? Quit and get another job.
If you are employed directly through the state, and paid by taxpayer’s money, you should not have the right to strike.
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So, public service workers should put on any pressure short of a striking; including quitting if it has no effect (which it won’t, let’s be fair, if there’s no threat, why should they?)
Is it better then for much of the police to quit, and go and work say, at their own private security firm; leaving us with very few police on the street?
Would you be happy with a partial strike perhaps? They’ll respond to 999 calls - that should prevent the break-down of law and order; but no investigative work, no patrols, etc.
Thing is, in recent years, we’ve had both the fire service and ambulance service on strike - and both have been covered.
With planning, the army could replace a police strike. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if crime goes down at that point - would you mess with a squaddy with a gun?!
“you should not have the right to strike”
…or vote.
Of course they should have the right to vote! As citizens they have that right.
But jobs they can choose - and if they chose to take a job that directly relies on the state, they don’t have the right to strike.