Striking Workers

The People's Countryside Environmental Debate Podcast

On this podcast we always aim to give you a balanced view, we always discuss the topic in hand from our own truths, and never shy away from the big topics.

In today’s episode Stuart and William discuss the following question which has been sent in by listener Vera in New Hinksey, Oxford, England.

“Feels like the 1970’s all over again with high inflation and strikes. What are your thoughts on recent rail strikes? The government says the industry needs modernising, yet rail workers seem to say that's a euphemism, really meaning costs need to be cut in the face of another recession, and the best way to do that is to cut wages. Is cutting costs really modernisation? Tourists are saying they are being screwed over by having transport reduced, but isn’t that just part of being a backpacker or a tourist?”

The discussion that naturally unfolded between Stuart and William from this question revolves around ideas of what modernisation on the railway in particular means, for example how it can be a euphemism of getting rid of workers. It can seem that costs are being taken out of the system regardless of that's making it better. The human element is the biggest cost it seems, and reduction of staff is being seen as a way of modernizing. They also compare what is happening now to what happened in the 1970s here in the UK, exploring the similarities and differences. There was a different set of circumstances in the 1970’s, that weren’t too long after the second world war, but the emotions are the same in many cases.

During this episode William mentions the other podcast he co-hosts with Tommy Serafinski of the Tommy's Outdoors podcast, here is a link to that joint show Have You Ever Considered?

What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to [e-mail], or record us a message in your own voice by going to https://anchor.fm/thepeoplescountryside/message

This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.

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