Iran calls for 'restraint'

By far the best thing to come from the recent unrest in London has been the following quote from the Iranian Government:

Iran called for London Police to exercise self-restraint in dealing with protesters in Tottenham, north of London.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast referred to Saturday night massive protests in Tottenham which came following murder of a young black man by Scotland Yard Police and called for the UK government to avoid any police's harsh treatment with protesters.

He stressed return of peace and calm to London through talks and examining demands of the demonstrators.

Mehmanparast expressed hope independent human rights bodies would take measures to make clear facts behind murder of the black man soon.

This sentiment was reiterated by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said: ‘The UN is silent. Human rights bodies are silent. If one per cent of this happens in countries that oppose the West, they scream until they are hoarse. Why is the Security Council silent?’

Why indeed?

Boxing Day Tube Strike

Is this a good idea? Unions exist to get the best deal for their members by bargaining collectively. Tube drivers want to be paid triple and get a day in lieu for working on December 26th. So will going on strike on Boxing Day get drivers these concessions?

No. It's pretty certain that they won't. Tube bosses have seen off quite a few strikes recently and they're unlikely to buckle over this one. The reason? The public has very little support for the strikers. Why would they? The strikers cost businesses in London millions of pounds. They cause misery for millions of people who are trying to get to work or to see loved ones. This strike could upset what is one of the most important days of the year for retailers. 

I do understand that the drivers want these concessions. But I think that unions have lost perspective on what should be cause for a strike. You really can't expect to have all, or even most, of your demands met: you are not in charge. Going on strike is a nuclear option. It should only be used in the most extreme circumstances. This really is not one of those circumstances. Neither was it when the London Underground management chose to restructure the staffing at tube stations. That was their prerogative. 

If you go on strike too often then your management will simply think you're being unreasonable. And so it will stand up to you. And once it has realised that it can do that, and that when it does the public does not blame it but blames the unions and the strikers, then they will never give in to strikers. And your most powerful negotiating tool is rendered useless. 

This is even more pertinent because unions managed to continue striking even when the economy was in good shape. Now that it isn't, and the Government's cuts are about to hit the public sector, we're probably about to see more strikes. These would be a lot more effective in changing public opinion if unions were able to convince people that they only went on strike for serious reasons. But because of strikes like the one on Boxing Day they won't have the effect they might have done. 

Now we're taking over their estates...

Here is a little culture instead of the usual politics:

Crap wordplay

New Liebour

Tony Bliar

EUSSR

$ky TV

Londonistan

I keep seeing these on newspaper comments. It's partly my own fault for reading newspaper comment sections but surely I can't be alone in thinking these are pathetic?! Oh bravo, you got the word LIE into Labour because you don't like the war in Iraq. You're a hero. EUSSR?! Honestly, are people really comparing the role of the EU with the iron rule of the Communists during the cold war? Shock, horror, London has immigrants! aaaaaaah!! Whatever shall we do?! Come up with a witty pun by putting 'istan' on the end of London? Yeah, now I feel better.