Trade Unions - For or Against?

Message boards : Politics : Trade Unions - For or Against?

Author	Message
Es99 Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 23 Aug 05 Posts: 7339 Credit: 210,168 RAC: 273	Message 1295621 - Posted: 15 Oct 2012, 15:58:38 UTC - in response to Message 1295476.
	... I do believe they treat their staff fairly though. Not sure about the UK where the labour laws are a little stronger (thanks to the European Union), but my stepson who is in his early 20s works for Walmart. I can assure you that they do not treat their staff fairly. ____________ In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move. - Douglas Adams
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Sirius B Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 6665 Credit: 1,280,210 RAC: 712	Message 1295636 - Posted: 15 Oct 2012, 16:29:50 UTC
	This says it all about unions...... The Desperation of a Union McCluskey's looking to aid Salmond with the Independence vote. ____________
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Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22630 Credit: 4,499,956 RAC: 5,993	Message 1295641 - Posted: 15 Oct 2012, 16:41:06 UTC
	The union, which is a key backer of the Labour Party, last month called for the first general strike in the UK since 1926 in protest at the Government’s austerity measures. Is it any wonder that Labour lost the last election, and why they won't win the next one. The days of the Trade Unions holding the country to ransom have gone, but some dinosaurs like this guy think differently. An ex Docker ... well says it all really doesn't it.
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Hev Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 4 Jun 05 Posts: 960 Credit: 237,382 RAC: 87	Message 1295887 - Posted: 16 Oct 2012, 6:57:03 UTC
	Union Maid - Pete Seeger & Arlo Guthrie
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Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22630 Credit: 4,499,956 RAC: 5,993	Message 1295903 - Posted: 16 Oct 2012, 9:03:42 UTC Last modified: 16 Oct 2012, 9:03:50 UTC
	Hi Hev, long time no see, and I hope we find you well :-) I know your views on trade unions, but do bear in mind that I have been a union member most of my working life, paid my dues, been out on a strike march (once) and am still now a retired member. There is a place for the unions just not one where they hold the big stick.
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John Clark Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 29 Sep 99 Posts: 15805 Credit: 4,356,364 RAC: 130	Message 1295916 - Posted: 16 Oct 2012, 10:13:19 UTC
	Keep well Hev, and good to see your post ... ____________ It's good to be back amongst friends and colleagues
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Sirius B Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 6665 Credit: 1,280,210 RAC: 712	Message 1302826 - Posted: 6 Nov 2012, 13:21:29 UTC
	Unions starting their "ransom" bids again! Possible boxing Day strike "The union has been demanding triple pay and a day off in lieu for working on bank holidays but TfL maintains there is a long-standing agreement for working on bank holidays, including Boxing Day." They're currently on Double Pay with a day off in lieu - that equates to Triple Pay & should be more than sufficient! ____________
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Gary Charpentier Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 10313 Credit: 5,067,764 RAC: 6,213	Message 1302847 - Posted: 6 Nov 2012, 14:57:27 UTC
	Speaking of Unions, watch the results in California on Proposition 32 the keep union dues out of politics measure. ____________
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Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22630 Credit: 4,499,956 RAC: 5,993	Message 1306401 - Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 11:28:12 UTC
	The Trade Unions aren't exactly helping law and order in Europe. The strikes included 40 unions in 23 European countries protesting against the 'deep and painful' cuts. Anger was aimed at the European Commission in Brussels, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and the International Monetary Fund. Millions took to the streets after the European Trade Union Confederation called its first 'Day of Action and Solidarity' against budget cuts which it claims are fuelling unemployment. Bernadette Segol, head of the confederation, said: 'In some countries, people's exasperation is reaching a peak. 'Europe's leaders are wrong not to listen to the anger of the people who are taking to the street.' Europe demonstrations
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Guy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 1181 Credit: 3,468,963 RAC: 179	Message 1306648 - Posted: 16 Nov 2012, 2:55:52 UTC
	http://www.clickorlando.com/news/money/Wal-Mart-workers-plan-Black-Friday-walkout/-/1637116/17426674/-/3di2iw/-/index.html We just recently voted for more unions here. Walmart has been identified as an evil corporation for several years now... you know, since they figured out how to get more products at a cheaper price more efficiently to the consumer. And unloading trucks, stocking shelves and operating Point of Sale beepers is worth WAY more than $7.25/hour. One thing unions are indisputably good for is raising prices on consumer goods. This article says this planned walk-out is for better pay (well of course!), fair schedules (some want more hours, some want less hours, but what is a corporation to do given the current laws?) and affordable health care (I don't know what they're talking about here. Presdident Obama has already taken care of that for them already). Unions are good for progress. I hope the scabs get beaten down somehow.
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Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22630 Credit: 4,499,956 RAC: 5,993	Message 1306712 - Posted: 16 Nov 2012, 8:22:41 UTC
	From what I can gather Walmart employees have a legitimate grievance, but that should not translate into civil disobedience.
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Guy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 1181 Credit: 3,468,963 RAC: 179	Message 1306785 - Posted: 16 Nov 2012, 15:31:18 UTC
	http://news.yahoo.com/hostess-close-cites-nationwide-worker-strike-124039265--finance.html Another fine example of great union work! Excellent! Twinkies are finally going away. They have no nutritional value and cause obesity. Chalk up another victory!
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Gary Charpentier Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 25 Dec 00 Posts: 10313 Credit: 5,067,764 RAC: 6,213	Message 1306795 - Posted: 16 Nov 2012, 16:17:54 UTC - in response to Message 1306785.
	http://news.yahoo.com/hostess-close-cites-nationwide-worker-strike-124039265--finance.html Another fine example of great union work! Excellent! Twinkies are finally going away. They have no nutritional value and cause obesity. Chalk up another victory! Sucked the twinkie dry. ____________
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skildude Send message Joined: 4 Oct 00 Posts: 8940 Credit: 36,399,759 RAC: 55,852	Message 1306813 - Posted: 16 Nov 2012, 16:54:32 UTC - in response to Message 1306785.
	http://news.yahoo.com/hostess-close-cites-nationwide-worker-strike-124039265--finance.html Another fine example of great union work! Excellent! Twinkies are finally going away. They have no nutritional value and cause obesity. Chalk up another victory! or corporate malfeasance. Having already filed for bankruptcy 2X in the last decade and executive pay reflective of greed not ability one can see this coming for some time. Oh and they also said that the snack food industry is in decline. Hostess has always been the most expensive snack available. Why buy their overpriced crap when I can get Little Debbies toxic waste snacks for half the price ____________ Proud member of TSWB. End terrorism by building a school
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Sirius B Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 6665 Credit: 1,280,210 RAC: 712	Message 1318146 - Posted: 21 Dec 2012, 13:39:08 UTC - in response to Message 1290458.
	Ah to be a union head.... ...definitely got to be the life of riley.... Scargill not done yet Update What next Scargill? ____________
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Mike Sebrey Send message Joined: 10 May 99 Posts: 101 Credit: 4,986,876 RAC: 5,911	Message 1318681 - Posted: 22 Dec 2012, 6:53:30 UTC
	I have worked both union and non-union. Of the two, I prefer the union. While I have seen abuses by union officials and labor, I have seen way more perpetrated by business when they knew the workers were unorganized and desperate for a wage. This is based on my personal observations and experience and may not hold for others or other locals. ____________ Fortymile Photo
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Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22630 Credit: 4,499,956 RAC: 5,993	Message 1318755 - Posted: 22 Dec 2012, 11:53:52 UTC
	Mike makes a balanced viewpoint, there is good and bad on both sides. Scargill of course was famous for his Miners strike of 1984-85. Scargill knew that the pits were becoming exhausted and uneconomic to run, but instead of negotiating the best possible terms for closures, payoffs, and pensions, he dug his heels in relying on the traditional proud union loyalty of miners. It became a symbolic fight of all unions against the government, not just the miners, which not only brought the NUM to its knees, it also resulted in a death knell for the British trade unions. Strike He got himself elected as Life President of the NUM which he says included a property for life and also for his widow. The Miners say they can't afford it any more and went to court over it. On the question of an appeal, Mr Scargill said: "I shall talk to my lawyers about what the best course of action will be." "I think any independent observer will regard this as yet another judgment with the anti-Scargill feeling about it," he added Hardly surprising really is it? And it's not all over yet eiher .... Orgreave
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Sirius B Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 6665 Credit: 1,280,210 RAC: 712	Message 1346480 - Posted: 14 Mar 2013, 10:39:01 UTC
	No wonder we're getting our mail later & later in the day, whatever happened to the early morning deliveries? Posites vote to "boycott" mail handled by 3rd party firms ____________
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Chris S Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 19 Nov 00 Posts: 22630 Credit: 4,499,956 RAC: 5,993	Message 1346487 - Posted: 14 Mar 2013, 10:57:31 UTC
	Most of the third party letters that are delivered by the Post Office are junk mail. Unfortunately they are responsible for generating useful business and income. I have always felt that the Royal Mail should be a public service underwritten by the government, that is there to break even within sensible budgets. It is part and parcel of the British fabric of society, and has no business being part of any privatisation shenanigans to make a profit for shareholders.
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j mercer Send message Joined: 3 Jun 99 Posts: 448 Credit: 11,196,444 RAC: 1,231	Message 1346724 - Posted: 15 Mar 2013, 0:51:02 UTC
	I am a 35+ year retired IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) lineman. I climbed wooden poles in my cedar slippers and steel towers with my whiskey getters and kept the power & lights on rain snow or shine. I’ve worked everything from batteries to lightening. LOL! Unions were a mixed bag for me. They served their purpose way back when but I am not so sure today. Not all Local Unions are bad. My Local IBEW 483 was one of the better ones. My dues were only 1% for most of my career. Only in the last couple of years did it go up to 1.3% with everybody else paying 3+% in the other unions. The thing I like the most was that most Union hands were qualified to do the work after earning their Journeyman Lineman’s card (certified tradesman/craftsman). I could not say that for a fair amount of non-union linemen. I was a boomer (traveling lineman) for several years and got to see how it was in other places with other people so I like to think I have seen and worked both sides. I have been through a couple sanctioned strikes and a wildcat (unsanctioned) strike. Nobody ever wins with a prolonged strike. I finished my career/pension at a Utility with a steady job. The thing I hated the most about Unions is their PAC moneys/politics which for me was dictated by the “International” board without my input. It has been interesting watching the ‘pendulum swing’ in the Unions favor and now away. I see the whole cycle starting all over again in a few more years when the current direction gets abused yet again. Hahah! So today I am against what most have become and still for what most use to be long ago. ____________ ...
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Message boards : Politics : Trade Unions - For or Against?