Nov 12
85667411
Well, the firefighters strike is to begin. The problem? Apparently the army assuming use of the firefighting equipment at firehouses would be ‘crossing picket lines’, and thus, not an option HMGov wishes to entertain. The Tories should dissent. This boils down to private individuals obstructing the use of public goods. Where else could it be done ‘legally’, or at least ignored? If a group wishes to prevent commuters from using Westminster tube station to protest government policy, should it be allowed? In my view, the firefighters’ action and blocking the tube are morally equivalent. To tacitly permit the firefighters union to enforce effective ‘ownership’ of public goods is flawed.
In addition, I’d assume the fire houses’ equipment is more modern and efficient, hence it may save more lives, but this is ignored, as the government doesn’t want to annoy the trades unions. Use of public equipment is completely unrelated to a strike. Substituting 827 Green Godesses for 4500 Fire Trucks equipped with cutting equipment, proper radios, sufficient ladders, and other modern safety equipment seems a bit unwise. If the firefighters do not want to work at a given wage, that is their prerogative. But they have no right to prevent other workers from using public goods. The policy being applied with regard to the picket lines is both dangerous and demonstrates an unwillingness to use the law to provide safety services with public goods.
