Frost and RMT News

The frost covered field was beginning to slowly thaw as I returned from the shop this morning.  The low temperature had not bothered me during the night, snug as a bug with my bedbugs as I was, but it would have been a problem for those working the night shift.

It always amazes me how bright the sun can be when the whole world is covered in whiteness.  The roofs, the fields, the cars, one of which was being driven by a chap who had not bothered to remove the inch thick frost from his windscreen.  Mr Plod was not impressed.  Quite how anyone could consider driving when he could not see though the windscreen is a question that cannot be easily answered.  Not that he is driving now of course.

The gritter vehicles will have been out and about, almost all of these giant yellow vehicles, lights flashing as they go, have been given names in Scotland and elsewhere.   The Scots vehicles names include-

'Blizzard of Oz'

'Yes Sir, Ice Can Boogie'

'Snow Connery' and 

'You Only Grit Ice.'

This is good and keeps people freezing to death happy as they see these vehicles pass during the night splaying the road with grit, ensuring some degree of safety to the roads and enabling the kids to get thrown out to school, well out off Mums way so she can get some peace.

Vast amounts are spent on grit each year, and it is not unusual to hear, in Summer, Tory like people complain about the cost.  In Winter they are the first to complain about the roads!  Bah!

This is sad news for the RMT.  Mick Lynch has always appeared as a clear headed, well spoken negotiator, always ready to oppose the rich stealing from the poor and to protect what we used to call 'working class' people.  He became famous as the Conservative government deliberately refused to negotiate during the rails strikes.  Questioned by hostile reporters employed by government state TV and radio he quickly disposed of their slanted questions, stated the case for his people, and made clear the rail companies, under government orders, refusal to negotiate.  

His appearances on hostile TV programmes made him famous as he indicated the lies from government ministers and others, stated his own case clearly, and refuted all and sundry when opposed. The union movement, and the working people of this nation will miss him when he goes.

His million pound salary, less than most CEOs of the companies he opposed, was criticised, as was his remaining in a council house.  He did nothing wrong in this, the only problem was the well paid Tory questioners seeking hypocrisy to match their own.  

I fear there is none available to take his place.  The UK is now owned by corporates, usually based in the USA.  Freeports and SEZs are taking away the rights of the workers, few there are who can speak for them as clearly as this man has done.  

The future is bleak in industrial relations in the UK.  Thinking Conservatives have been replaced by an intellectual level that in days past would not have allowed them to be elected.  Many in both sides of the House would fail to become MPs is Churchill, Attlee or Thatcher were around today.  Making the rich richer, and getting a slice for yourself is the key for most today, the future is bleak.