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Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 16:25 GMT 17:25 UK

"Whilst there is inequality strikes will always be in fashion. Period"
James Taylor


I know 500 Chars. is a limitation but could you not have said just a little more in support of that strange statement?

Are you suggesting that all be paid the same regardless of skill, education, aptitude, responsibility, capability, type of work etc?

Or maybe it was some vague reference to 'Class' ?

[Artemesia], United Kingdom

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 16:25 GMT 17:25 UK

Gosh this must be nostagia weekend. I've spent 40 years working and the comments, even the jokes, are at least as old as that! I've been both a boss and a "worker" and have no doubt that to some those who worked for me I seemed as stupid as many workers see their bosses now. All I can say is that whilst I agree many bosses are/were poor so /are were many "workers"... BUT the percent of stupid ones got fewer the further they got up the tree.

David Gale, Middlesbrough

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 16:11 GMT 17:11 UK

Trust. No definitely not. When the managers of my employer pay themselves a bonus at Xmas time and try hard to keep it secret from the employees whereas normally everyone gets the bonus.

Where the managers cancel the office Xmas party and then go off to the Xmas party of the parent company and none of the consultants which go out and bring the work in are invited.

Where managers refuse to declare redundancies where there is no realistic prospect of work.

Julien, Ampthill, Bedford

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 16:06 GMT 17:06 UK

Do workers and managers still trust in each other?

I like the 'still': compared to when?

Chris Downing, Rothwell, United Kingdom

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 16:03 GMT 17:03 UK

The situation at Lindsey refinery is a disgrace. The British worker has lost all respect over the last five years with poor attitudes across many construction projects in the UK. They have allowed themselves to be manipulated by a few radicals who are out to screw the system for all they can get. Who the hell wants to invest in the UK at the moment when you can guarantee the workforce are hell bent on industrial action and poor productivity from day one. The UNITE union are a joke.

John

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 15:46 GMT 16:46 UK

In these tough times, the last thing I would be doing is walking off the job. I say fire them all and hire people who want to work. Lord knows there are enough workers who need jobs. Unions have lost sight of their original purpose. Mostly they just suck the life out of companies. Look at GM and Chrysler as big name examples. After "winning" their contracts a year or so ago. They're begging to give it all and more back. I'm surprised the UAW isn't striking or complaining about lost jobs.

Mark, Fremont, MI USA

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 15:37 GMT 16:37 UK

Once a collective or individual contract has been signed, surely the right to strike or the employers to lock out is foregone? Does a contract not mean anything, any more?

I would like to see the right to strike removed from the contracts of all workers in the public sectors (except MPs who may do a better job on permanent strike!)

Devil Incarnate, Cyprus

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 15:13 GMT 16:13 UK

Relationship with my (ex) boss?

Zero - he fired me and farmed the IT work out to India. Do we see the cost savings being passed on to customers? Fat chance.

Ask anyone working in IT (computers). Huge chunks of UK work are all done in India. Very cheap, but taking UK jobs. This is the norm now.

The cherry on top was when I had to train up the man who was taking my job. I can't say I did the best job there that I could have, wonder why? ;-)

still unemployed, Contact details supplied.

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 14:40 GMT 15:40 UK

If schools taught economics more people might understand what is happening and why, and have more trust, on both sides

[MarkGE], Witney, United Kingdom

I'd settle for having politicians who were taught economics. Brown's PhD is in the history of the scottish labour party and Darling is a lawyer!! No wonder we are in so much trouble.

And on the topic under discussion, when did workers and management ever trust each other???

Election Please, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 14:23 GMT 15:23 UK

It's all very well to condem strikes and make them illegal but this shouldn't give managers and employers immunity from the consequences of their decisions, particularly those that impact peoples lives and in this case local communities. The decisions made may well be economically sound from a company point of view but they do not appear to be supportive of the local english economy, an ecomomy that their business relies upon for it's trade. We should boycott their products and company shares?

Bob Swann, Liverpool

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 14:13 GMT 15:13 UK

Total? is this not the same French company who operate the Yadana gas pipeline from Burma to Thailand and are currently fending off accusations of using civilian slave labour in its construction.

I wonder if they would get away with treating French workers in France the same ways as they treat their British workers Britain.

Perhaps the cause of British jobs and British workers is not a sexy enough cause to concern our politicians and members of the metropolitan classes.

John, Leeds

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 14:03 GMT 15:03 UK

Union reps always think they no better than bosses, so how is it they never became bosses? they were not bright enough.

And you, who think you are so bright, can't spell...

MPH, London Colney

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 14:01 GMT 15:01 UK

"(A) culture of cut-throat competitiveness replaced collaboration in the workplace. High pressure and expendability replaced a sense of purpose, pride in your work,security and dignity with anxiety...Isn't the workplace turning into a ...tyrant? Welcome to China." Blanka Smenkilla

I was an artisan, working with tools in my hands. Then the job was computerized and I was an "operator". I soon realized that I was the tool and the computer was in charge. I got off the treadmill, my will defeated.

[dudeiancan]

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 14:00 GMT 15:00 UK

Atleast Total has the guts to sack those strikers, we have a significant proportion who have claims inappropriate amounts and still believe they did nothing wrong.

If Gordon had any guts, he would sack the MP's and call a general election. Atleast then every MP would have to re-apply against thier own record.

I also want to know how many MP's dont vote in every bill thats goes through parliment.

MP's represent their own self interest!

STEPHEN, LONDON

Added: Saturday, 20 June, 2009, 13:55 GMT 14:55 UK

"Workers and managment have been miles apart since the introduction of the trade union movment..."[crossie], Stoke-on-Trent

You can't blame the unions alone - they're just the reaction to an economic system founded on fear, greed, envy and "the blame game". The unions are neither better nor worse than management, and vice-versa. At my last place of employment, I was a supervisor - a worker who was part of the management. Never again. It is much better to work for oneself and be one's own boss.

[dudeiancan]