Letter: Poor employment conditions - where did it go wrong!
I listen to workers telling me about their poor terms and conditions of employment. This makes me think back to the 1970’s when I started work, and I ponder on where did it all go wrong?
The answer I believe, is in the now ever-present large dole queue.
In the 1970’s, it was hardly a queue, but now the dole is around the two million mark. Again I recall a queue of 3 million in the 80’s, which is when my employers forced a new employment contract on me, quoting the millions waiting to take my job.
It must be understood that now, like then, bosses have zero incentive to give workers decent pay or conditions. The TUC and trade unionists generally must face this Capitalist economic law of supply and demand, and tackle it. The workers movements need to push back, as until they do, nothing will improve, and disguised slavery will grow.
Union branch meetings need to debate this strongly and decide on action. We always have the Strawbs anthem ‘Part of the Union’ to give us that extra strength!
Adrian Rimington,