Newsnight 18 August

Presented by Gavin Esler.

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BA strike

A thousand pounds bonus just to turn up to work sounds like a good deal. So why did the GMB union say that they had a 'real problem' with British Airways' proposal to pay £1000 to each of its workers in return for improvements in sick leave? The offer was made in a bid to avert a strike that could ruin the Bank holiday weekend for thousands of travellers. Are the Unions stuck in a time warp or are they simply trying to resist attempts by corporate giants to control every aspect of their workers' lives?

Gavin was joined by Patricia Peter from the Institute of Directors and Will Hutton of the Work Foundation.

Israel

The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faced a revolt by his own Likud party. They voted on whether to support an invitation to their long term opponents, the Labour Party, to join them in a coalition government. That coalition is essential if Sharon is to go ahead with his plans for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. We reported on the vote and its fallout.

We spoke to Bret Stephens Editor in Chief of the Jerusalem Post.

Democrat's military strategy

The Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Ohio is proving a very popular event this week. First President Bush chose to use a speech to the gathering to announce his plans to pull back 70,000 US troops from bases worldwide, and then John Kerry told the same convention why the President has got it wrong. We examined the Democrat's military strategy and asked if it will be a vote winner.

Gavin was joined from Washington by Robert Hunter, a former US Ambassador to NATO.

Liberal Democrats

'Go back to your constituencies and prepare for government'. David Steel's words were once an embarrassment to his party but could they now ring true? Following their recent by-election successes could the Liberal Democrats really become Britain's second party?

Click here for the report

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