Those harmed financially by strike action should have the right to claim compensation
sir – People have the right to strike, but they do not have the right to prevent others from earning a living. Those who suffer financially as a result of strikes and lose wages should also have a right, the right to claim compensation from those who call a strike. I would like to see this right set in law.
Trevor Jones
West Chiltington, West Sussex
sir – Thanks to the rail strikes I have been forced to cancel a long-awaited hospital appointment. This will no doubt put me back to the bottom of the waiting list.
Philip Jordan
East Malling, Kent
sir – In this country we now we have a union demanding money with menaces.
When did it become an acceptable thing to hurt people in order to get something you want?
David Winter
Puttenham, Surrey
sir – I served in the Metropolitan Police for 32 years. I have spent the last 10 years working in the rail industry. As more details emerge of the demands being made by the RMT union I can see dangerous parallels.
Until 2010 policing was adequately funded and largely effective. Improvements and savings could be made in some areas. It was suggested that a 12 per cent budget cut could be made without adversely affecting performance. The government pressed ahead with police reforms and budget cuts in excess of 20 per cent.
As a result, roads policing lost 39 per cent of officers, neighbourhood policing was decimated, crime rose and detections fell as a result of the loss of over 22,000 mainly experienced officers. Policing is unlikely to recover.
You report that the RMT is asking for a 7 per cent pay rise in return for altered working practices. There are areas where improvements can be made. These could result in monetary savings and loss of staff, probably more modest than the Government would like.
However, most staff employed by the rail industry are safety-critical and we boast one of the safest railways in the world. So the Government cannot afford to underfund and understaff the railways industry as it did to policing. Clifford Baxter
Wareham, Dorset
sir – How disingenuous are the arguments being made by union leaders and opposition parties.
The Government, representing the people of this nation, stood by the
rail workers during the Covid-19 crisis.
With the new Elizabeth Line creating hundreds of jobs, with substantial investment in the railway system and with HS2 under way, there is little force to the union’s arguments that there will be job cuts.
We are in a crisis, yet the highly paid union leaders, supported by this inept Labour Party, will hold the country to ransom while making demands that cannot be justified without putting further responsibilities on our grandchildren in repaying increased interest charges on borrowed money which we simply do not have.
When will the Labour Party put the interests of our country before its own dishonest ambitions?
Derek Godfrey
Holt, Norfolk sir – After 22 years in the Royal Marines I moved seamlessly into the North Sea, where my diving experience was in demand.
The platforms and drilling rigs were supplied by British tugs. The RMT union saw its opportunity and called a strike, believing that the oil companies would be desperate to get the rigs supplied and crews changed.
The oil companies promptly negotiated with enterprises from Germany and the Netherlands predominantly.
Within days new state-of-the-art supply vessels, with helicopter landing pads, arrived and they got on with the job.
What the RMT was told when they asked to negotiate is probably not printable.
Even today, 43 years later, you seldom see a supply vessel in Aberdeen, Dundee, Lerwick or Peterhead flying the Red Ensign. Captain Hugh Wiltshire RM (retd) Wareham, Dorset
sir – Can we not just ban striking for any essential service?
Nick Rose
Selsey, West Sussex
sir – There’s a real danger that copycat strikes, the result of growing inflation, could lead to a repeat of the militancy of the 1970s.
A lame-duck Prime Minister who lacks credibility and moral authority simply encourages disorder. Rebellious children need a strong headmaster.
Cameron Morice
Reading, Berkshire
sir – At least 15 other countries have driverless trains. Why don’t we? There is now the perfect opportunity. Claire Allmand-smith
Midhurst, West Sussex