Stephen Morris aside, I do think it's a bit unfair to label all the unemployed people taking work to fill in the Royal Mail gap as 'scabs'. A lot of these people really, really need work that just isn't there. I don't think that's an 'excuse'. I think it's a damn good reason, even though I support the Mail strikers
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Scabbing damages workers' rights. You cross a picket line to do a job and you're a scab. His laughable 'story' could be achieved by interviewing people without being another wanker prepared to cross picketlines. I'm sorry people are desperate for money and jobs but when you cross picket lines you make it worse for every worker. And when you do it for some bollocks half baked story you are unethical and a wanker.
I know morals and ethics are important. That's why I'd never cross a picket. I believe in workers' rights.
To be honest, I cannot understand who you can identify as socialist and condone crossing pickets for an 'undercover investigation'. This isn't desperation or any horrible pressing need.
I didn't say I condoned the 'investigation' or the article - in fact I said that I thought he was a shit for taking away money from someone else who actually needed it. What I said was that I took issue with your description of the article as 'unethical journalism', AND that I don't feel that people crossing picket lines in these circumstances are 'scabs'. Those are separate issues - I'm sorry I didn't make that clearer by making separate comments
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Whilst I don't in any way condone the strikebreaking going on, I can't say I'm surprised by it in the slightest. From what I can tell, from comments and conversations I've heard at work and round and about, any kind of industrial action is pretty unpopular at the moment. A common sentiment I've heard expressed is "Why should they kick up a fuss about their pay when so many/my kids/my husband can't get a job at all?" It was the same with the Tube strikes a few months back.
I also think that a lot of people our age haven't grown up with much experience of a culture of widespread industrial action, or conspicuous trade union power. I would hazard a guess that a lot of the casual workers who've signed up for Royal Mail over the past week or so have very little concept of scabbing or what it means, or what the potential consequences of their actions are. This doesn't excuse it, but for me it does put it into some kind of context.
Should probably clarify this comment - I was talking about the people who are working casually for RM, rather than Steven Morris. He undoubtedly fully understands strikebreaking and its implications, and I don't see why he had to cross a picket line to write this article, to be honest. As Sian's pointed out, there's nothing in it he couldn't have gleaned from a few interviews, and the whole business seems immature and sensationalist.
I did understand where you are coming from. I do have some sympathy for some of the strikebreakers. A lot of them are desperate, but in the wider scheme it's just so counterproductive. especially if you look at the appalling borderline illegal conditions they've accepted. Conditions any decent union would fight. IT's also worth noting that the CWU is striking over conditions of employment not pay.
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I know morals and ethics are important. That's why I'd never cross a picket. I believe in workers' rights.
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I also think that a lot of people our age haven't grown up with much experience of a culture of widespread industrial action, or conspicuous trade union power. I would hazard a guess that a lot of the casual workers who've signed up for Royal Mail over the past week or so have very little concept of scabbing or what it means, or what the potential consequences of their actions are. This doesn't excuse it, but for me it does put it into some kind of context.
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IT's also worth noting that the CWU is striking over conditions of employment not pay.
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