What's really funny about Baron's comments is that they are completely and totally irrelevant.
First off the strike is not about 'social conditions' or oppression etc etc. Its about the fact that Gate Gourment, having realised the seasonal nature of the demand for their product decided the best way to cater for this variation was to hire 'seasonal' staff to service additional demand.
This was percieved by the Union as a potential way fo reducing the permant staff's rights and priviledges in the future. After all if seasonal staff can do the job why pay extra for permanent.
So instead of sitting down with the management and asking them to consider the seasonal nature of the demand and ways of ensuring this seasonal staff was protected and supported to the same extent as permanent they did the usual Union response of striking... hence the sackings.....
Secondary action is Union promoted action not necessarily originating from the work force.
The real gripe is that Unions are seeing hteir power base erroded by their own often reactionary stance on working practices, worker education and flexibility etc etc....
So Baron's comments are not only based on limited knowledge of the situation but also limited knowledge of current UK working practices.....