Trolley Dolly Wankers - BA strike!

[Torurot]

There's always exceptions. Not all employers are bastards. Unions over the last century have done more good than harm. Some union bosses need a slap around the head.

[whore]

Here in Ireland the unions are using their influince to pressure the government to crack down on bankers pensions and bonuses. Recently a Bank of Ireland chief was awarded a 1.5m euro pension top up and the unions said it would effect their decision on signing a new pay deal for public service workers. Thats one good thing I can think of in recent years, but I still dont like unions and I have always hated union reps in places I have worked as I had to constantly be nice to them even though they were assholes.

[tomscam]

(strocube @ Apr. 21 2010,09:36) You union bashers are a bunch of fucking CUNTS!
Unions are necessary to protect workers, and in fact society from some of the more egregious abuses perpetrated by business.
It was unions and people involved with labor struggles that got us the 8 hour day, the weekend, child labor laws and all of the protections that we enjoy. Those were fought for--people bled and died for that shit. It is also wroth noting that every time, for every single one of those things mentioned above, business claimed that it would ruin them--bullshit.  Those greedy fucks want it all for themselves and would be quite happy to see labor laws and protections for workers brought back to 19th century levels--FUCK THEM!
For the past 9 years I have been a proud union member of CWA, Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC local KISS MY ASS YOU FASCIST PRICKS!

Right on!

Most people don't know their history and are completely ignorant to the fact that the conditions we have today such as a 8hr working day, sick days, holidays, OHS etc were given to us because people fought for them, not because the bosses were being nice.

Sure some union bosses have been corrupt but this is a minority and 90% of the work they do is positive and for the benefit of all, members and non-members alike.

I know that in my profession, without the union there to support us, we would be at the whim of our bosses who see everyone as dispensable & replaceable. They couldn't give a toss about your mortgage or your family. Unions force them to care.


BTW, as for the communist jibe, there is a HUGE difference between communism and unionism. Do some reading and educate yourself!

but I still dont like unions and I have always hated union reps in places I have worked as I had to constantly be nice to them even though they were assholes.

Don't we all have to just get along with our fellow workmates regardless of our personal opinions of them? This is part of being professional in the workplace.

[whore]

Is there an echo in here?

You have just said exactly what I said. I be nice to them, as in "just get along", even though they are assholes, as is my "personal opinion of them". Its all part of being professional in the workplace.

[tomscam]

Hopefully the same philosophy is used in regards to dealings with other BM's.

[whore]

I wouldnt use the same philosophy with regards to people from the forum or BM's I have met in Thailand. If someone is an asshole towards me, or a girl I am with at the time I would tell them bluntly. But that has never happened as every forum member I have met in Thailand have always been really cool guys, but hell we all share a same passion in life so its easy.

We have no professional relationship so I would have no problem in calling you an asshole, if you were one of course

[tomscam]

same same

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

(pentire @ Apr. 22 2010,03:31) Back in the days when I part owned a succesful business empoying forty people, a condition of employment was not to be member of a trade union.
Everybody was well paid, engineers company cars were replaced with upgraded models year on year and nobody had to work more than a nine hour day, although from time to time were expected to work thru lunch.
Happily we sold out five years ago at a great price helped by the fact that a union veto was never going to be a hurdle to overcome.
Employess serving more than five years were rewarded accordingly once we banked the buyers cheque.

These days, in my area,  everything has become 100% about the bottom line.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, is done out of consideration for an individual's situation or needs.  The mindset of the employer is "if we don't have to do it, we won't".  This was not always the case.  For example, when I was a kid, my mother became very ill.  Her illness required an quite a bit of attention from my dad at the time.  He felt that he had no choice but to take time off from his job so that he could tend to her needs.  My father was not a member of a labor union.  I do not remember if they paid his salary during the time away, but they kept his job for him and maintained his health care.  This went on for over a year.  They did not have to do this for him, but his bosses felt that it was the right thing to do.   This would never happen today.  Our "bottom line" mindset (brought on by the companies and employers in the US) has all but eliminated any form of the compassion that was commonplace before.

I work with the support of a labor union and I am grateful for what they have done for me.  I put in a solid 12-14 hours, full out, every day.  I believe that my employers get a good days work from me despite the fact that my wages and benefits have declined consistently over the last 20 years.  I am not whining here, I am stating a simple fact.  Despite what many claim, I do not see a lot of abuse by my fellow employees.  All of the fat was trimmed a long time ago.

If my job were to become non-union, I can tell you with certainty that I would have no choice but to look for a new career.  This not an easy thing to write given my age and the current state of the economy.  It's just that I know the employers in my industry too well.  Their offices are filled with people who have the sole job of looking for ways to cut back on expenses with a clearly stated lack of regard for any individual.

Sad but true.

I wish more bosses were like Pentire was when he owned his company.  Here in the US, that mindset is clearly the exception to the rule.

RJS

[strocube]

Wow, Mr.Squirrel, I was floored by your post.
When confronted with the very realness of your post it becomes apparent that some people just talk a lot of shit who just don't know any better. Either that or they're just plane ol mean.

[Guest]

(Rocket J. Squirrel @ Apr. 23 2010,05:18) I work with the support of a labor union and I am grateful for what they have done for me.  I put in a solid 12-14 hours, full out, every day.  

RJS, that is amazing......I'm surprised that you get time enough to read the forum. Does your vacation time in Thailand involve as many hours each day in the field

[whore]

My disliking of unions comes from the public sector here in Ireland. They have been on a go slow for a few months now, just doing things like not answering phones and stuff like that. There was a strike a few months ago aswell, and the M1 grinded to a halt with all the public sector workers heading North to go shopping. Some strike that was. People in the private sector are losing their jobs or taking pay cuts. But people in the public sector are asked to pay a pension levy towards their state pension and they are want to shut the country down and strike. Even though the money goes towards their state pension and they will never have to take a forced redundency. Yet they want to strike and so shopping. Its all about money. Pure greed if you ask me.

We have one or two Irish public sector workers here. It would be good to see what they say.

[tomscam]

Why was there a strike in the first place?

I'm sure the Unions wouldn't go on strike for no reason.

[whore]

 Pension levy. It says it in my post already. Jesus you's Kiwis arent the brightest

[tomscam]

When a CEO sacks heaps of people and gives him/herself a pay rise the next day it's called "business", but when a Union strikes and wants more money for its employees the media labels them as "greedy".

Isn't there a contradiction here?

Unions (in my profession in Australia) only go on strike when the members vote for that action to take place. They don't do this in a willy-nilly fashion to piss of their bosses or the public but because they have been pushed into a corner and there is no other option. I have been in this position myself and I know that going on strike did not make me feel good at all.

If you like working 8hrs a day instead of 12 then you should go thank your Union for winning you that right instead of labeling them unfairly as greedy. Most people go to work each day wanting to do an honest days work, not looking to screw over the general public and their boss in the process.

[tomscam]

(whore @ Apr. 23 2010,22:39)  Pension levy. It says it in my post already. Jesus you's Kiwis arent the brightest  

Sorry mate but I don't usually read your posts too diligently. I can't remember why that is. Might be your writing style?