Tag: militant
Militant unions spark fears of a general strike – as they’re set to meet this week
MILITANT unions bringing Britain to a standstill will meet this week, sparking fears they are plotting a general strike.
Union chiefs will be hosted by the Trades Union Congress a day after they sit down with ministers to update them on their demands.
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Militant unions will meet this week, sparking fears they are plotting a general strike – pictured North East workers demonstrating in May 1926[/caption]
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Rail groups the RMT and Aslef will join GMB and nursing union the RCN to discuss recent walkouts, PM Rishi Sunak’s anti-strike laws and plot more “co-ordinated action”.
Even the Prison Officers Association, which cannot legally strike, has been invited.
Ministers meet the disgruntled unions tomorrow, with insiders saying union bosses will “compare notes” on Tuesday to plan their next move. A source described the gathering as a “war cabinet”.
Hardline civil service PCS union chief Mark Serwotka is said to have called for a general strike at a previous meeting, but sources denied that and said he will not call for one this week.
A union insider said there was no appetite for a general strike — not seen since 1926 — but warned the PM’s union crackdown could spark mass walkouts.
They said of ministers’ stance: “The legal gun might be loaded, but it’s stuck in a shed three gardens down.
“It’s certainly not being pointed at us and their finger is nowhere near the trigger.
“If anything this will make workers think ‘lets strike now’ while they get everything in order.”
The TUC said: “Tuesday’s meeting is one in a series of regular meetings to think about how we best support unions engaged in industrial campaigns.”
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has urged teachers not to vote to strike this week.
She said anti-strike laws are “not trying to be antagonistic” but added she hopes they are not applied to schools.
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A union insider said ‘If anything this will make workers think ‘lets strike now’ while they get everything in order’[/caption]
Watch as militant climate activist glues himself to talk show desk – before security lift it away & tip him to the floor
THIS is the moment an eco-activist glued himself to a table during a live TV debate – forcing security to come in and tip him off.
Jelle de Graaf, who is connected with Extinction Rebellion, had been invited to speak on RTL 4’s programme Jinek about the climate activists who had stuck themselves to Vermeer’s painting The Girl with the Pearl Earring in The Hague.
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Jelle de Graaf had been invited to speak on a Dutch talk show[/caption]
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The Dutch eco-activist glues himself to the desk during the TV show[/caption]
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Mr de Graaf smeared his hands in glue before slamming them down on the table[/caption]
During the discussion, he suddenly jumped up on the table, put glue on his hands and then slammed them down on the table top.
He then launched into a speech about the climate, talking about the hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis who have been displaced by the widespread floods.
The show’s security then appeared and approached the table in order to remove Mr de Graaf.
They tipped the table to one side, as the activist pleaded to keep filming instead of cutting to a commercial break as he feared for his safety.
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Staff then picked up the table top and carried the protester to the side of the studio.
They place one side of the table on the floor and tipped it over, causing Mr de Graaf to become unstuck and fall down to the side.
He continued to remonstrate with the security staff before they escorted off the set.
Mr de Graaf is a self-described “intersectional activist, campaigner and strategic advisor”.
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He helped organise Extinction Rebellion’s action week which took place last year and is also involved in various grassroots organisations.
Environmentalists targeted the world-famous painting in the latest protest just a day ago.
Three protesters were arrested at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague and fortunately the artwork was undamaged after the protest.
Onlookers at the museum were unimpressed by the action and visitors tried to drown out the “stupid” demonstration, telling the activists to “shut up” during a speech about the need to protect the environment.
PAINTING PROTEST
Footage posted online shows one protester appearing to glue his head to the glass covering the painting.
His accomplice then pours a tin of chopped tomatoes over his head.
The pair were then seen being taken away in handcuffs by the police, along with a third member of the group.
“Around 2 pm (1200 GMT) two people glued themselves to the Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer,” the Mauritshuis said in a statement.
THREE ARRESTS
“One person glued his head to the painting, which was behind glass, and the other person glued his hand to the green wall next to the painting. A third person threw an unknown substance at the painting.”
The museum added: “We have immediately inspected the painting, which was done by our restorers. Fortunately the painting… was not damaged.”
“Art is defenceless and to try and damage it for whichever cause, we strongly condemn it,” the Mauritshuis added.
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Dutch police said in a statement they had arrested three Belgian men in their 40s for damage to public property and were conducting a forensic investigation. They were being questioned.
Dutch Junior Minister for Culture Gunay Uslu said: “Everyone has the right to make a point. But please: leave our shared heritage alone. Attacking defenceless works of art is not the right way.”
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The show’s security carried the protester off set[/caption]
Trade unions threaten winter of mass strikes in most militant showdown since 1970s
Militant union bosses plotting synchronised strikes to bring Britain to its knees
MILITANT bosses from different unions are plotting synchronised strikes to bring Britain to its knees – and have told Sir Keir Starmer to “get a spine”.
They are pushing for workers across industries to coordinate their walkouts at the same time for maximum disruption.
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At least four unions back the controversial plan and are proposing a motion at the Trade Union Congress next month.
They include Unite, Unison, the RMT and the Communication Workers’ Union, raising the prospect of widespread carnage.
Unite leader Sharon Graham mooted the nightmare possibility of her bus workers striking simultaneously with RMT rail workers.
She told the Observer: “If we were going on strike on the buses, why wouldn’t we coordinate the two things? You want to make sure we give as much support as possible.”
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Coordinating walkouts stops short of an illegal general strike where workers down tools in support of another sector.
More strikes risk another row for Sir Keir who ordered his frontbenchers from going on picket lines before gently rowing back.
Ms Graham, whose union helps bankroll Labour, said the party needed to grow a backbone and stick up for workers, She said: “I think that if they came out now strongly and said ‘hang on a second, these abhorrent profits that are going on and what’s happening with the cost of living, this is what we think should happen’ – then I think they would very much get elected.
“From my point of view, I think we are doing Labour a favour actually by saying ‘look, get a spine, stick up for workers’.
Labour’s chief secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden said: “Nobody wants to see industrial action but it is understandable why people at work want a decent pay rise given the inflationary pressures that they’re feeling right now.”
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