Welcome to my latest current affairs post. You’ll find at least four a week at Beyond the Blog. Click here for my fiction, poetry and essays.
Two conflicting reports grabbed my attention last week. The business community felt a shudder as the UK Prime Minster offered concessions to unions. Meanwhile, a report from MPs claims the six biggest energy providers are purposely keeping prices high.
Britain has a love affair with unions and socialism.
The undercurrent runs just below the surface, and has resulted in a marvelous, if abused, national health and social security system in Britain. It has also led to union action that, at times, has brought the country to its knees.
This union power was destroyed by Margaret Thatcher. Or was it? Maybe what really happened was that affluence took away the need for people to need unions so much. But now that an economic downturn is here, the situation is changing.
Recently, local government workers went on strike.
For a day or two rubbish bins were not emptied. Afterwards, one story was that of a man whose bin was not emptied because it was too full – because, of course, it was not emptied earlier due to the strike!
I think this symbolizes Britain today. Unions declined and business became all-powerful – so energy companies can make sure prices remain high. In effect, they are too rigid in what they do.
And the story of the bin shows, now that they’re flexing their power again, unions will be too rigid also. As increasing poverty infects my country, I fear for it. We are about to suffer an attack of rigidity.
© Anthony North, August 2008
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