Me and my mate Roy...

Never considered myself on the same political wavelength (or even bandwidth) as Roy Hattersely, but found myself in complete agreement with his Guardian article today, which makes the case for so-called 'secondary action'.

One of his key points is that the trend toward sub-contracting and outsourcing what were once previously 'core' functions essentially means that workers (and their unions) need to be free to tackle the 'semi-detached' corporations which determine their pay and conditions, but who do not formally employ them.

I personally think one of the problems with the debate around secondary action is that, as usual (and as Hattersely suggests), we have let the right frame the language of the debate. While the Murdoch press is happy to justify the 'right' of companies to sack workers without a moments notice (business needs and all that), it is a little more reticent about the 'rights' of working people to support each other when faced with poor treatment at the hands of these same employers. As Hattersley argues, 'the odds have always been stacked against low-paid workers. Gate Gourmet employees, and people like them, have no chance of a fair deal unless they receive help from their friends. Secondary action is more than necessary. It is right'.

Any comments below, ta.