View Full Version : What do Unions Look Like?
jenkinsdakota
07-10-2007, 17:10
Remember that government ad where the big, dirty, fat union thugs walk into a small business filled with nice, clean, slim, and attractive people and started ripping up paper and shutting off power?
Do union people really look and act like that or is this just a stereotype or caricature?
workin'mumof2
07-10-2007, 17:14
Apparently unions in the 60's-70's used to be like that. These days they are a lot more peaceful but are really important for workers rights. So says my hubby lol
subaruforestermum
07-10-2007, 17:29
LMAO... I am a memeber of a union, and they have been a great help during my Workers Comp issues. It is just a stereotype of what things use to be like, mine is nothing like that! They are great bunch of people, very calm and knowledgable and friendly...
My work even reccomends that we join the union, and as a added bonus of being a member of a union the fees are tax deductable!
Yes, the union 'thug' stereotype that gets bandied about in the media and taxpayer funded advertising is a figment of a very active imagination (or perhaps an overexaggerated vision of unions long past?)
Unions and their members span a wide range of workers, from the CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union), to the SDA (Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association). Unions exist to help give workers a fair go, negotiate pay and conditions, and help defend the jobs of workers against retrenchment and redundancy threats.
A good site to get a feel for the modern union movement is http://www.actu.asn.au/ :thumbsup:
By the way, I'm a union member, and I'm neither burly or scary. I joined to protect my rights in the workplace. Plus my union dues are a tax deduction!
I'm a union member. My union are fantastic when we need them - negotiating new enterprise agreements, questions about conditions and so on, but cause very few issues for management. They certainly don't come and crash around the workplace in a violent manner, there is no intimidation and I've never met a union rep who is nasty, hairy and agressive.
Mamalicious
07-10-2007, 18:22
Haha that is so ridiculous!! My Mum and her partner are both Union Organisers, and while they're not ones to pick a fight with (they know they're stuff) they are both clean, tidy, and both are quite slim, and respectable looking aswell (don't tell them I said so!)
They'd think that ad was hilarious though, wonder if I can get it on youtube....:detective:
Some Unions are still like that!
My Dh works in Mining and while he is not a member of the Union, they are men in his current work place who have been physically threatened and attacked for not 'conforming'.
Some Union delegates and officials are dirty thugs.
Mamaduke
07-10-2007, 20:50
The ones that ran my friends and I off the road and threatened us with baseball bats in 1991 looked like that - some even had balaclavas on (they were obviously the very tough ones :rolleyes: )
Mamaduke
07-10-2007, 20:58
Let's ask Joe McDonald shall we?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/21/1958437.htm
Some Unions are still like that!
My Dh works in Mining and while he is not a member of the Union, they are men in his current work place who have been physically threatened and attacked for not 'conforming'.
Some Union delegates and officials are dirty thugs.
Tarring all union delegates with the same brush because of the 'bad behaviour' of a few is dishonest and narrow minded. All in all the union movement have been instrumental in securing the conditions all Australian workers have enjoyed - that is up until WorkChoices.
Ummmm note the word some?
I have not 'tarred' anyone.
Nowhere in my post was i dishonest or narrow minded.
Mamaduke
07-10-2007, 21:25
All in all the union movement have been instrumental in securing the conditions all Australian workers have enjoyed - that is up until WorkChoices.
Now Australian workers can get just as good a deal if not better without having to pay the unions...
they must really hate that! :D
Now Australian workers can get just as good a deal if not better without having to pay the unions...
they must really hate that! :D
Really? Did you not see the University of Sydney study released last week that stated that people on AWAs are worse off than worker on collective agreements? Which Australia are you living in?
And Spotlight found the AWA system way too complex and unfair, so they went back to union negotiated collective agreements - so much for WorkChoices!
I think you'll find that image stems from the roots of unionism.... which was most definitely not pretty or passive, but violent and aggressive in most cases.... and I'm talking about a long long long time ago here....
However I will agree with Roopee in that not all unions are progressive and professional, and that SOME do still resort to standover tactics even in this day and age.....
Really? Did you not see the University of Sydney study released last week that stated that people on AWAs are worse off than worker on collective agreements? Which Australia are you living in?
Can I just make the point that not all collective agreements are union negotiated....
Mamaduke
07-10-2007, 21:38
Really? Did you not see the University of Sydney study released last week that stated that people on AWAs are worse off than worker on collective agreements? Which Australia are you living in?
And Spotlight found the AWA system way too complex and unfair, so they went back to union negotiated collective agreements - so much for WorkChoices!
So the above examples would be 'some' workers?
Tarring the entire Workshoices system with the same brush because of the 'studies' of a few is dishonest and narrow minded.
Oh hang on...someone sort of said that not too long ago didn't they?
Can I just make the point that not all collective agreements are union negotiated....
No, they're not. But most workers aren't expert negotiators, they're just good at their job. The role of the union to negotiate collectively for ordinary workers who do not have the clout (financial and otherwise) to strike a fair deal with their employers.
So the above examples would be 'some' workers?
Tarring the entire Workshoices system with the same brush because of the 'studies' of a few is dishonest and narrow minded.
Oh hang on...someone sort of said that not too long ago didn't they?
It was a legitimate study by the University of Sydney, funded by a number of parties, including a government body, not just 'studies'. It is the most comprehensive study of the effect of the WorkChoices legislation to date.
http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=1967
No, they're not. But most workers aren't expert negotiators, they're just good at their job. The role of the union to negotiate collectively for ordinary workers who do not have the clout (financial and otherwise) to strike a fair deal with their employers.
There are other services in place too for workers to gain fair advantage out of the current workplace laws and regulations in cooperation with their employers.... unions are not the only way to acheive this... nor are they always going to be the best option for everyone in every occupation....
forbetoel
07-10-2007, 22:30
Modern day unions are great, and most actually have good working relationships with companies. Many low skilled jobs now pay a decent days pay for a decent days work, because of unions. My husband had his job saved when he was only 20 when a thug of a boss sacked him on a whim.
forbetoel
07-10-2007, 22:31
Tarring all union delegates with the same brush because of the 'bad behaviour' of a few is dishonest and narrow minded. All in all the union movement have been instrumental in securing the conditions all Australian workers have enjoyed - that is up until WorkChoices.
Once again Odessa you speak the absolute truth.
Well the union delegates that negotiated my pay in the late 80's/early 90's didn't look like that, but still lost me all penalties for Sunday work, made me work longer than I had been able to do to get overtime, traded off half of my entitled sick pay days, list goes on....
All you have to do in WA is look at the union bosses in the media here (someone pointed out Joe McDonald), or anyone associated with the strikes that have delayed the Perth to Mandurah railway at great expense to the taxpayers (striking for things like - days off because someone further up the line was entitled to a day off due to temperatures being over 38degrees etc.)
Once again Odessa you speak the absolute truth.
Actually i beg to differ.
My post-in which he/she was referring to was not 'narrow minded or dishonest'.
No tarring with brushes happening here.:no:
missie_mack
08-10-2007, 09:01
anyone associated with the strikes that have delayed the Perth to Mandurah railway at great expense to the taxpayers (striking for things like - days off because someone further up the line was entitled to a day off due to temperatures being over 38degrees etc.)
It would seem that this really is a good example of where unions have helped the workers. This is a case that has been plagued with issues for nearly 4 years. I think many of the issues run much deeper than the temperatures (however admittedly I wouldnt like to work outside on days over 38 degrees). If I remember rightly this all started over the project being behind schedule and staff being expected to work both day and night shifts to make up the time as their werent enough staff. Then I think the AIRC was asked to intervene and the management refused and instead cut staffs night shift allowances.
However what has brought the most attention to the case in the Australia wide media was the striking in Feb 06 where the workers felt that a fellow member of staff (and union delegate) was unfairly dismissed. The staff were refused the right to strike and advised by the AIRC (and their union!) to return to work or face possible fines in excess of $20 000 each.
The staff must have felt that their issue was warranted to continue striking being aware that they may be facing these fines IMO.
Angelmist♥
08-10-2007, 09:24
:laughing:That's how I remember the majority of union officials looking. Admittedly, I haven't had anything to do with them for a few years:smiliedance:.
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