Much has been made of the GWU's campaign to saveguard the jobs of 13 employees at Interprint, a government owned company which is being closed down. The Union is planning sympathy actions to force the authorities to find alternative employment for the workers who end their notice period in September. Commenting on the stand taken by the GWU, a Times editorial stated:

Just at a time when the administration is making such a serious effort to streamline the service..in comes the GWU pressing the government to do just the opposite...The union is fossilised in the past, moulded in an outmoded thinking and attitude... the union has become anachronistic...

To the contrary, the news that the Public Transport Association is threatening to dismiss 40 employees has hardly raised any eyebrows. I have not seen anything written in reaction to this heavy handed measure suggested by the PTA over their financial dispute with the government. It is true that restructuring is necessary and can be painful, but does'nt this say something about the priorities and contradictions of modern society?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 at 1:25 AM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.