(30 Oct 2023, 1:41 pm)Ambassador wrote BBC throwing in some casual gas lighting with the headline here
Nasty union supporting its members,
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67260104.amp
I think it is in the interests of the wider debate and public knowledge that this information is out there. I think it should be known, frankly.
Once upon a time, strike action was unpaid and therefore a risk vs reward position as a last resort (ignoring the politics and rationale around why or if it should even got that far to begin with..!)
Being paid to strike, (tax free too), basically means there is absolutely nothing/minimal financial position to lose in the plight of getting a better deal and therefore why wouldn't you continue to reject forever and a day?
Most people will be 'assuming' that this is unpaid and making a support judgement from that assumption. However, once it becomes more widely known, expect public support to drop like a stone - as it will 'appear' to be a zero risk strategy, in that the only people being hurt from this are the passengers.
We've seen exactly the same thing play out in other locations over the past few years. I'm surprised GNE haven't been 'informing' people about the daily payments in their own press releases.