On the 27th of Jan 2024, I’m off to Cheltenham, it’s a 3-hour trip and I don’t want to go.
“So Bob” I hear you ask, “why are you going?”
Well, my imaginary friend* it’s like this;
I am a trade unionist, I’m a shop steward/workplace rep for UNITE at The (unbelievably wealthy) University of Cambridge*. I am not a member to overthrow the status quo and bring about a socialist revolution*. I am there to look after the interests of myself and my workmates. I want higher wages, better conditions, fairer management.
At present, we are in dispute with the (unbelievably wealthy) University over our pay.*
We have taken industrial action and are prepared to take more. It is not easy, there are a large number of hoops to jump through before industrial action is legal, and any union doing it really has a serious issue.
The government doesn’t like the fact that unions are prepared to dance its restrictive dance in the interest of their members, and the rest of the workforce.
One of the sectors is Higher Education. I am a maintenance person, the government want to make it illegal for me to withdraw my labour.
This is a direct attack on me, not some vague group of people, ME, despite my position not changing (more pay etc) I am now cast as a threat to society that needs to be legislated against.
I’ve signed up on the website, I’m going to get up early on a Saturday sit for 3 hours on a bus, and stand up a be counted, then I’m going home. I don’t like demos, I don’t like the travel the noise, and to be honest I feel uncomfortable about the very act of protesting. But I’m buggered if I’m going to have my right to strike taken away without a fight, by this or any other (and I mean you Starmer) government.
We think we need at least 30 people from Cambridge to sign up for UNITE to lay on a bus.
UNITE branches in Cambridge have way more members than that. If you are not going to support in some way(email your MP, sign a petition, write to the paper) this protest you may as well throw your union card in the bin, losing the right to strike cuts us off at the knees. Make no mistake this is an attack on you and your future.
“I don’t want to go” is not good enough, I don’t want to go either, and I’m going, See you on the bus!
Footnotes
If you are not , imaginary sorry, but I’ve seen the stats no one reads this!
I wouldn’t be too unhappy about this, but that’s not why I’m a UNITE member. lets renationalise the trains and improve council housing first..
Peeking Over The Parapet... 