OT The ATC

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Bear

I don't think he's that stupid (after all, if he's as thick as he
appears to be, he'd need life-support to remind him to breathe). He *is*
cunning.

(Un)Fortunately, he's addicted to the one "weapon" he has. "Everybody
AHT!". Even when he's fighting a lost/non-existent cause. "Waddawe
want?" "Umm... Not really sure...".

One of the deciding factors in my recent job dilemma was that with the
one I took, I won't be a hostage to Bob Crow's chest-beating five days a
week. I count myself very lucky to have had the choice.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Checks inbox....nothing there yet...

 

Might have to arrange something sometime then. I've a couple of guns
so no worries there but I don;t get the time to go as often as I'd
like. But I know a veriety of grounds near and far.

I love my shooting but I've been so infrequently in teh last couple of
years that I stopped improving and now seem to have to relearn
everytime. :-(

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Bear

Yeag, I'm a bit like that.

I've shot *at* quite a few things, mind...

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

You'd be very wrong, there.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..93550../..25068.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 69 Pts:0960 Miles:3899

 

Eh? You're bonkers.

Completely bonkers.

Why should increases apply across the board?

Why? What if they don't want to tie capital up in the company.

A "fair share"? WTFF does that mean?

Why? In case you think it through, and change your mind?
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..93550../..25068.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 69 Pts:0960 Miles:3899

 

There isn't really that much opportunity for a full-team problem
solving workshop in combat, though. All they are trying to do is find
those who'll toe the line when they need to.

We'd have sufficient bodies to stick in uniforms if powers that be
didn't feel the need to be involved in every minor kerfuffle the world
over.

I didn't, which is why I did.

I did have the advantage (as did you) over the regulars, of always
having the "sod this for a game of soldiers, I'm going home" option
available.

I simply treated it as playing at being in the Air Force, and if I
wanted to play, I had to stick to their rules. It worked for me. Most
of the time the "orders" were bonkers, but harmless.

Step forward Cpl Angie Luddington.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..93550../..25068.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 69 Pts:0960 Miles:3899

 

Fair enough. Incidentally I had a training session with a PT
instructor from the royal marines last night. It was ridiculously hard
- I suspect that they are pretty fit.

Anyway what's a cialtrone?

 

Tries again.

 

He's just been re-elected - un-opposed.

 

This interests me. Why do striking workers /need/ the support of the
public? They [the workers] just need the support of their colleagues in
not breaking ranks.

"**** me lads, we better pack it in: Nigel and Bear don't support us".

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, sweller

Heh. More likely "**** me lads, the government has used our pointless
posturing to get more anti-union legislation passed".

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

If we make the comparison with ASLEF - a 'Blairite' [1] outsider ran
against the left leadership of Mick Rix and won. The activists chose not
to put anyone up in the Stalinist sense and were shocked at the crass,
bumbling idiot the membership had elected on a surprise [2] "Anyone but
Mick" card.

No-one stood against Bob Crow as he's popular with the majority of the
rank and file membership - increased pay, credited with making jobs more
secure and increasing membership, says what they think and isn't seen as
toadying up to management - so any challenger from the ranks of the
leadership perceived they would lose.

The real strength of the RMT lies in its organisation within the rail
maintenance sectors (Network Rail and LUL). IMO, it's losing ground
within the train operators and skilled grades (signallers, S&T etc.)

I think that we may see large shifts in the balance of union power within
the rail industry in the next couple of years. Unite (the merger of the
T&G and engineering union AMICUS) have designs on the railway [3] and the
RMT are not popular bunnies with them.

I have my own views on aspects of the RMT.


[1] I think it can be covered by "crass, bumbling idiot the Labour
Party latched onto".
[2] A surprise to those who were divorced from the workplace.
[3] They've already started with full page adverts in the trade
papers and an enormous recruitment budget.

 

No.

From a morale point of view its nice and if you're taking on the
Government it's important. The Gov't are driven not by economics (cf.
miners strike) but a political agenda which can be steered by public
opinion.

However, if the industrial action is purely an economic sanction against
a private employer how does public opinion figure in that particular
battle?

 

Now that does look like a laugh, and reasonably priced as well
considering I could ride the bike there in 6-8 hours!

It's a beautiful city, if somewhat spoilt by the drunken Brits, although
the times I've been there have been a little off peak and they can be
lost by a bit of walking. I reckoned the price of beeer fell by a euro
for every kilometre you walked from the centre of the old town. Always
wanted to go mid winter to see if the river freezes.

 

Restricting the organising power of unions goes back to the Tolpuddle
Martyrs so is nothing new. Incidentally when was the last time more
restrictive union legislation was passed?

The late 60s, 70s and subsequent Thatcher years were a product of
unimaginative and slothful thinking on both sides of the political fence;
worn out production methods and a King Canute mentality. Coupled with
half arsed wage control mechanisms; a lack of investment in society,
ideas and skills led to those oh, so happy, decades.

That and a fair helping of spite.

 

Economic sanction against a 'private' employer (TfL).

 

This is where the rules blur - organising non unionists is encouraged and
recruiting within traditional spheres of influence is acceptable
(engineering is AMICUS's sphere, Transport is T&G's).

Then it gets onto if you tread on someone else's toes it becomes fair
game especially if someone else is bigger.

 

Tis true. But I've never been that good at buckling to authority.
Like Champ I lasted about a fortnight in the cubs.

She was a rancourous old cow, she was.

 

Still nothing at 10.53am Sat. andrew underscore wegg at hotmail dot
com?