Apr 2008 30

Public Sector Strikes10

Strikes are back in the news, with industrial action in the past week by oil refinery workers and school teachers. As a result, there is growing public concern at the cost of these strikes and the interruption to vital services.

New TaxPayers’ Alliance research reveals that workers in the public sector go on strike far more than their private sector counterparts:

  • Over the last five years public sector workers have gone on strike for over 20 times as many days on average as workers in the private sector (see Table 2).
  • Over the last twelve months public sector workers have gone on strike for 895,000 working days, more than 100 times as many days on average as workers in the private sector (see Table 1).
  • This is despite public sector workers being paid more and being far more likely to enjoy benefits such as a final salary pension scheme.

Mike Denham, former Treasury economist and TaxPayers’ Alliance expert,said:

“Public sector workers have learned from past cave-ins that this government is willing to compromise taxpayers’ interests in the face of strikes. They know that politicians are far too ready to spend our money to avoid political embarrassment. And with the public sector four times more unionised than the private, strikes have increased sharply, leaving ordinary taxpayers facing untold inconvenience and expense, as well as the prospect of even higher taxes to buy off the strikes.”

Download the full report (PDF)

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  • James Rowling

    Er… isn’t a lot of the strike action to do with final salary pensions being under threat?
    And where’s the evidence of public sector workers being paid more? Lower paid workers strike because of below-inflation pay offers. The £50k and above band (which you regard as akin to child molesters and serial rapists) wouldn’t go on strike and they aren’t as unionised.
    Once again the TPA embarrasses itself with a GCSE maths answer to a non-question. What about local issues (i.e. unfair dismissal?). Until it can actually do proper statistical analysis it’s never going to be more than a “rent-a-quote” source for lazy journalists.

  • commentator

    Your article says “This is despite public sector workers being paid more”. You have more supoport from public sector workers than you think. Public sector also pay taxes and have to do what the government dictates. Many in private sector earn far more than many in the public sectors. If the TPA alienate the public sector they could lose supporters. Not all public sector are legally allowed to strike. Incidentally many in public sector only want “real” inflation based rises as real living costs and inreases in taxes mean their wages go less further. Many serve the public in areas they struggle to,(or cannot afford to),live in.

  • Hardeep_Singh

    Indeed the oil refinery strikes were with regard to final salary pensions but the ‘strike’ mode of thought was still very evident. Nevertheless look at the negative effect the threat of strike action induced into the nation’s economy, not a good sign.
    People working within the public sector could just like those in the army learn a trade and then take it to civvy street. Why can’t council workers do the same? If they aren’t good enough then that’s the salary they deserve. I just can’t understand why the public sector seems to think they can pretend to be corporate when they are anything but. No more so than myself pretending to be a rock star when I’m clearly not so why all this ‘pretending’.
    I agree that the public sector performs an important role but they’re not exclusive in doing so, so does everyone else and sometimes under more difficult and testing conditions. Instead of employing energies into striking why not get onto a course and get trained to do something else. Become an accountant, HR adminstration, start up your own business. The only peopl;e who win are those organisations that prey on your feelings and emotions the ones with one card to play, who do I refer to …..? The mighty unions with an ego to serve and just one card to play, strike.
    As for the notion of public sector workers paying tax well their salary is completely funded by tax in the first place. I have to share my office building with a council occupying the other floors and I am far from impressed by the significant absence of professionalism exihibited by their staff, that’s hardly endears me to their public sector cause. I’m sorry but there’s not enough to go around and as private companies are having to let people go the public sector should be grateful they still have jobs rather than an arrogant mistimed dash to get even more money. I’m sorry but it all comes down to affordability and yes the unions can sniff a weak government lead by an even weaker PM, thus taxpayers will end up suffering for the whims of government and the misplaced desires of the great army of public sector corps.
    Same high prices, weak service but now even further watered down with intermitent service, what a disgrace!

  • commetator

    Hardeep_Singh said
    “People working within the public sector could just like those in the army learn a trade and then take it to civvy street. Why can’t council workers do the same? If they aren’t good enough then that’s the salary they deserve.”
    Well perhaps some actually want to do their jobs but just want reasonable pay in line with rises in taxes & living costs.
    Hardeep_Singh said
    “I agree that the public sector performs an important role but they’re not exclusive in doing so……”.
    Public sector aren’t claiming to be the only ones with important roles as inferred.
    Hardeep_Singh said
    “Instead of employing energies into striking why not get onto a course and get trained to do something else”.
    A valid point but if everyone in public sector did this the country would cease to function. Importantly some actually work in certain areas of public sector because they want to perform certain roles – it’s the terms and conditions they are unhappy with not necessarily the specific roles which many enjoy.
    Hardeep_Singh said
    “ who do I refer to …..? The mighty unions with an ego to serve and just one card to play, strike.”
    I say again………Not everyone in public sector can,(nor want to), strike & for some such action is legally prohibited in any case.
    Hardeep_Singh said
    “As for the notion of public sector workers paying tax well their salary is completely funded by tax in the first place”.
    Like it or not the country needs essential public services or it wont function. I appreciate there are good and bad in every job, (my kids go to school), and I am therefore not defending every individual, role, department or even organisation within the public sector. I can, however, assure you that public sector workers tax contributions go in the same pot as those in the private sector.
    Hardeep Singh said
    “……………. I have to share my office building with a council occupying the other floors and I am far from impressed by the significant absence of professionalism exhibited by their staff, that’s hardly endears me to their public sector cause”
    I have had bad customer experiences in the public sector but also in the private sector. Where I have also witnessed a lack of professionalism, however, I am not blinkered or prejudiced and from my opinions on a case by case basis.
    Hardeep Singh said
    “I’m sorry but there’s not enough to go around and as private companies are having to let people go the public sector should be grateful they still have jobs rather than an arrogant mistimed dash to get even more money”.
    That attitude is a typical THANK YOURSELF LUCKY YOU HAVE A JOB MENTAILITY. You’re failure being your inability to to recognise some choose careers as desired vocations not just based on wages but many are struggling now.Public sector are not seeking MP level pay rises and perks but rather, (like many in private sector), trying to keep their heads above water due to big rises in real living costs and/or taxes & deductions. As for private sector having to let people go –It could be argued that greed and irresponsible actions of some in the private sector has caused the global credit crunch that has impacted on others. There will of course be arguments that governments have failed to respond but the private sector has a lot to answer for too.
    Hardeep Singh said
    “Same high prices, weak service but now even further watered down with intermitent service, what a disgrace” !
    As for high prices and weak service the same criticisms can be easily made of various aspects of private sector product and service provision. (Does the phrase RIP OFF BRITIAN ! sound familiar ?) For every poor public sector worker there will be plenty of poor private sector employees too.
    I must make it abundantly that I am not advocating encouraging or supporting any strike action of any type and I am opposed to life endangering consequences of such actions, however, some feel they have failed to yield a suitable resolution in the absence of such action. Like it or not public sector pay taxes too and from earned wages.
    It is ironic that divisive comments appear on a site promoting alliance.
    Sadly we live in a society whereby many are happy to rant yet are unprepared to consider constructive balanced views of others.
    Thanks for your input

  • Hardeep_Singh

    Far from it, when have I ever sough to limit anybody’s right to comment? This s a website with a discussion section attached to each of it’s respective articles.
    Just because I may disagree with you on certain aspects of this and any other debate does not make mean that I can’t have my say and that of others.
    I hope you can understand and respect that important point otherwise we’re not going to get anywhere :) -

  • Hardeep_Singh

    Sorry for the typos and spelling mistakes in my last post. Whoops a daisy ! :) -

  • Adam Wissen

    Does anyone consider that Public Sector workers still enjoy finally salary pension schemes BECAUSE they’ve been prepared to take industrial action to protect them?
    If private sector workers in companies are prepared to have the final salary schemes closed and believe the lie from their employeer that they aren’t ‘sustainable’ without so much of a whimper then it’s their funeral.
    But don’t whine about those workers who are unionised and do have the balls to fight back (be they public or as with the Grangemouth dispute private sector).
    With this report you’ve just shown what you really are. A Tory ‘think tank’ acting in the interest of big business, but masquerading as some sort of ‘power to the people’ organisation (hey, not all that different from the actual Tory party really)
    Your hatred of the public sector driven by nothing more than your desire to undermine it, in order to open it up even more privatisation.

  • Adam Wissen

    As with the post from Hardeep Singh, please ignore the typos and spelling mistakes ;)

  • Johnbluk

    Anyone wishing to sign this petition, regarding last years tube and rail strikes, please note closure date is 06/09/08, thankyou.
    After a promising initial reaction, it has all been but buried at the #10 petition site below.
    http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wildcat/
    as follows;
    To outlaw or constrain by injunction, any “wildcat” and irresponsible strike action in the public sector services, that is taken prior to full and corrective consultation and arbitration between parties concerned.
    The most recent strike actions by LU and railway staff has been irresponsible, has caused unnecessary chaos, and moreover, the safety of the general public has been placed at risk, especially when there is still potential and serious threat of terrorist activities within inner cities.
    It should be against the law for strike action to take place prior to any corrective arbitration in these essential services.
    Furthermore, parties concerned in these failures should be held accountable for loss of services, inconvenience and loss of moneys and revenues caused by unlawful strike actions.
    Thankyou
    ;0]

  • George McCleery

    It should be made unlawful for any government worker to strike.
    As we the tax payer pay their salaries, gold plated pensions and sick pay we should have the right to strike (withhold taxes) due to any loss of services caused by public sector strikes.
    Public sector unions and employees are using economic terrorism against the tax payer by their indiscriminate striking.
    The public sector unions and employees know that the tax payer cannot withhold paying taxes because of their bad service and use this as blackmail against the government.
    As the public sector unions fund 90% of Labour Party finances, are the Labour Party going to give in to the public sector unions? No chance.
    Why do you think that the Labour party has employed millions more into the public sector. This is used as a reason to say that unemployment is at it’s lowest level since the Labour Party came to power.
    This is an obscene and discriminatory use of power by the government and public sector trade unions for their own personal advancement.
    The shortfall in the country’s pensions is brought about, not by the ageing population, but by the ballooning public sector and the gold plated pensions they receive.
    Gone are the days when the public sector was supposed to look after the people who pay their salaries, nowadays the public sector is all about looking after themselves and the tax payer is just a means to give them their excellent salaries and benefits.