Jake condemns strikes
Jake has condemned the strikes that took place today, 30thNovember 2011.
Up to two million workers joined the union led protests against Government plans to reform public sector pensions, leading to an almost total shutdown of public services. Hospitals were able to treat only the most critically ill patients, refuse collections and other council services were disrupted and with the three biggest teaching unions joining the picket lines, the overwhelming majority of schools in Rossendale and Darwen were closed which led to thousands of parents being forced to take time off work to look after their children.
It is estimated that the strike, which was the biggest the country has seen for decades, has cost the already precarious British economy £500 million. Yet in a recent poll more than half (56 per cent) of the general public said they were opposed to the aims of the strikers, agreeing that public sector workers “have to take their share of economic pain” and accept reductions in their pension plans.
Jake said, “This was a prime example of the trade union movement riding roughshod not only over the wishes of the general public but also over their own membership. Only a quarter of union members voted for industrial action. We must seek to change the balloting rules so that a minority of union extremists cannot hold the country to ransom again. These strikes have led to twenty seven schools in my constituency being closed which means that around 10,000 kids couldn’t go to school today. It has particularly affected single parent families.
“These strikes have caused huge disruption in the community and to many of our small businesses who are already struggling in these hard economic times.
“It is outrageous and irresponsible for the unions to have gone ahead with these strikes at a time when we are trying to get the economy back on track.”
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