Somehow feel that railways are now getting a bit too political! How are we meant to get stuff done in this country?
Note - I do appreciate that the reasons that the drivers are coming from and do understand them.
It's not about politics per se, it's about taking a stance on foreign policy and more specifically, a specific international conflict. Personally, I would prefer if unions were political in the classic domestic sense, i.e. endorsing parties, political actors and policies that are pro-railway worker. Unions are and always have been inherently political in that sense, if not necessarily
party political.
That said, like you I do understand where the drivers are coming from, in principle, though I feel like we're getting into weedy waters here. I mean, who's checking that the other manufacturers don't source their raw materials, refined metals or computer chip technology from war-torn countries in Africa, Asia and South America?
Not to say that CAF's financial dealings are entirely ethical, far from it, but it seems difficult to draw a clear distinction between them and other European manufacturers in that regard and given that fact, I would prefer trade unions stuck to bread and butter issues instead.
I think part of the problem is that in today's attention economy and post-Thatcher globalised fragmented labour market, traditional trade unions everywhere are desperately trying to shake off their image of dusty middle-aged white men clubs in favour of more diversity and younger members, not least through social media. But I don't think that this is the right way to go about it.
Whatever their financial dealings abroad, CAF is an entirely reputable manufacturer. In my view, the most important parameters to consider from the drivers' point of view are reliability, ease of use, comfort and safety. If CAF can deliver on that front more so than another manufacturer, it seems bonkers to boycott them for a matter related entirely to foreign policy and a conflict two and half thousand miles away.
But that's just me...
