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Re: Can of worms

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:46 pm
by Slow and wobbly
Benno wrote: A lot of sites wont even allow you on site unless you're a financial member. Not sure how this works today, as I haven't been on a construction site for years.

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:48 pm
by ZXRobyn
Mmmmm heavy! I wish you luck Adrian and hope all goes your way . . . Please keep us posted. I'd be very interested to hear of your experience and/or result.

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:53 pm
by Benno
Slow and wobbly wrote:
Benno wrote: A lot of sites wont even allow you on site unless you're a financial member. Not sure how this works today, as I haven't been on a construction site for years.
Even though it is unlawful it is still the way it is. And thats what started all this.
Unfortunately you're not Robinson Crusoe in this matter. It wont be the first time they've come up against this, and it wont be the last.

Only advice I will give is stick to your guns! (like you wouldn't have anyways! :P)

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:00 pm
by penno
I have been a member of a union in the past but am now in management and have two goups reporting directly to me - one group are in a union the other not.

I believe that unionism is a good thing as long as they act responsibly, within the law and with the best interests of their members as their primary motivator.

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:19 am
by the kid
Good Luck with the meeting Homo .

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:56 am
by Strika
Slow and wobbly wrote:
Benno wrote: A lot of sites wont even allow you on site unless you're a financial member. Not sure how this works today, as I haven't been on a construction site for years.
Even though it is unlawful it is still the way it is. And thats what started all this.
What you need Adrian, is a boss like a good mate of mine! The unions tried this shit on him! So he sacked them all on the spot and shut the job down!!! Told the unions that he would just pack up and go home if they make his life difficult, as he doesn't need the money!! The union soon had complaints from the staff who were fired. They then went back to my mate and told him it was OK and they would stop hassling his guys! They no longer walk into the site and demand union membership with his guys oddly enough!!!! :lol:


Personally, I have always looked at unions like this (sorry if you are a union member, you may have other reasons or be intellectually challenged) ..... If you are a useless employee, who does fuck all and manages to take the longest to do it, then you probably should be in a union. However, if like myself and other people I know, you become a valuable mamber of staff, put in, be concientious and diligent, get the boss results and make him/her money, you don't need to be in a union, as your emploer usually sees a wage increase as a better option than replacing you!!!!! :roll:

I guess we'll soon find out which one you are!!!!!! :lol:

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:31 am
by bluezx14
Yep unions are for people who should not have the job in the first place, this was not the case 100 years ago but it is now!

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:03 am
by aardvark
bluezx14 wrote:Yep unions are for people who should not have the job in the first place, this was not the case 100 years ago but it is now!
That's a big call mate, and shows that you have quite a narrow view of unionism. Sure, there are some unions and union bosses out there who are simply a waste of space and seem to get off on bullying and scare-mongering, byt some unions actually have a place.

Believe it or not but employees in my workplace are often the subject of frivolous complaints and ridiculous charges from bosses, who sit in their ivory tower, with weeks on their hands to find fault in the actions of people making split second decisions.

Our union fees pay for legal advice and the cost of lawyers defending us against such claims and for all of the other help and support provided by the union. They have also been successful in obtaining us fair payrises and working conditions without the need for work bans or heavy handed tactics.

Our unon is one of the most respected in the country and for you to place them all in one basket and claim that the people in them shouldn't have the job in the first place is ridiculous.

Maybe all of the members of our union should quit or walk off of the job? With 99% membership it'd certainly make things interesting.

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:13 am
by fireyrob
bluezx14 wrote:Yep unions are for people who should not have the job in the first place, this was not the case 100 years ago but it is now!
In my line of work (see right) what else are we meant to do? Please clarify!!! Pretty hard to find another job with 1 employer in the state...

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:31 am
by holly
in the NTEU

where do you clowns think our work conditions come from?

employer benevolence?

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:37 am
by aardvark

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:47 am
by fireyrob
aardvark wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=184NTV2CE_c
brilliant! bloody romans!!!

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:51 am
by bluezx14
Well that worked :lol: , but seriously if you don't like the conditions you work under there are people out there screaming for anyone with more than 2 brain cells to rub together and a bit of enthusiasm. (I can’t help it I was born to poke the bear)

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:55 am
by Benno
Unions definitely have their place. People are quick to forget where their 8 hour days came from, where their 38 (or 36) hour week came from.

As I said I think they are a necessary evil. As with anything you get people who take it too far and make all of them look bad.

Re: Can of worms

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:08 pm
by bluezx14
Unfortunately you are right, while big business rules unions are a necessary evil