Union barons have been {accused} final night time of plotting a ‘de facto basic strike’ within the New Yr as they launched a loyalty card scheme designed to artificially swell picket line numbers.
The union-backed ‘Strike Map’ organisation is providing ‘prizes’ to Left-wing activists who attend a number of picket strains, no matter whether or not they have any private involvement in a sequence of bitter pay disputes.
It has additionally established a ‘wall of fame’ for activists who participate in probably the most disputes. ‘The extra pickets you go to, the extra free prizes you win,’ the group’s web site boasts.
It comes forward of weeks extra of deliberate strikes, with border guards strolling out at seven ports and airports for one more 4 days from in the present day, together with driving examiners in some components of England.
The union-backed ‘Strike Map’ organisation is providing ‘prizes’ to Left-wing activists who attend a number of picket strains
Union barons have launched a loyalty card scheme designed to artificially swell picket line numbers. Pictured: Picket line outdoors Waterloo ambulance station on December 21
Rail employees will strike once more throughout 5 days subsequent week, and nurses will stroll out for 48 hours over January 18 and 19, and ambulance employees on January 11 and 23.
Staff from different sectors, equivalent to academics and firefighters, are additionally being balloted.
Tory MPs stated final night time the Strike Map initiative was additional proof that militant unions have been co-ordinating efforts to break the Authorities.
Swelling picket strains with non-strikers additionally fuelled considerations a couple of potential revival of the banned follow of utilizing flying pickets – when teams of hanging employees transfer from one office to a different to picket them.
Tory MP Craig Mackinlay stated: ‘If activists need to be a part of picket strains unrelated to their very own industries, that is proof rising of potential flying pickets in all however title.
In a video clip posted on the group’s Fb web page, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell stated: ‘This is likely one of the most vital property that we’ve got within the motion now’
Apsana Begum, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, tweeted: ‘I simply joined the Strike Map #visitapicket loyalty card scheme. Help your native strikes and win free prizes’
Rail employees will strike once more throughout 5 days subsequent week. Pictured: Passengers ready at King’s Cross Station on December 27
‘There’s little doubt in any respect that that is wholly political in its ambitions to trigger a de facto basic strike to carry down the nation’s funds and the Authorities.’
Former Cupboard minister Damian Inexperienced stated the Authorities was going through a ‘quasi-general strike’ co-ordinated by ‘politically motivated’ union leaders.
He stated the event of a espresso shop-style loyalty card was ‘an extra signal that for some unions these are political strikes’.
Strike Map additionally publishes an in depth real-time map displaying the time and placement of hundreds of picket strains throughout the nation – overlaying disputes by rail employees, postmen, paramedics, nurses and others – so individuals can journey to affix them.
Left-wing Labour MPs have backed the Strike Map initiative, which is ready to go dwell subsequent month.
In a video clip posted on the group’s Fb web page, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell stated: ‘This is likely one of the most vital property that we’ve got within the motion now. If you wish to specific your solidarity and be a part of a picket line, you go to Strike Map.’
Apsana Begum, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse, tweeted: ‘I simply joined the Strike Map #visitapicket loyalty card scheme. Help your native strikes and win free prizes.’
In one other video message, Kevin Courtney, joint basic secretary of the NEU academics’ union, encourages others to enroll.
Pre-empting the results of his union’s strike poll, he provides: ‘I’m actually trying ahead to you publicising all our pickets at 23,400 faculties after we strike within the New Yr.’
In response to Strike Map’s web site, it’s backed by branches of the rail union Aslef and Unite. Its tells activists to finish a type to allow them to obtain their picket loyalty card ‘digitally and bodily’.
Candidates ought to then take a selfie of themselves on picket strains earlier than posting them on social media with the hashtag #visitapicket.
To ‘win prizes’, activists ought to add their photograph on to their digital loyalty card as proof. Three photographs earn activists a spot on the organisation’s ‘wall of fame’ and ten end in a free T-shirt.
Former Tory chief Sir Iain Duncan Smith stated: ‘With the character of how these strikes are being deliberate, there’s no query that they’ve a function. It’s a really clear political function to create as a lot mayhem as potential and… carry a authorities to the brink of collapse.
‘They’re attempting to carry in regards to the chaos of a basic strike with out truly having to do one.’
Strike Map declined to remark final night time.
