Trade Unions.

[shoes]

Of course there is but its up to you to sort it out. It's got nothing to do with cleverness, its all about getting back what you put in. I think a lot of it these days is a matter of perception, what I consider a hard day's work someone else might consider an easy life, and vice versa. However if you have allowed yourself to get that demoralised by your job its your own fault again, it doesnt happen overnight !!!! You have pleanty of notice and warning and if you do nothing then on your shoulders be it!

What the **** has happened to society?! I'm a mere baby and I get frustrated and just how f***ing lazy society seems to be these days.

 

[Monquey]

Men cling passionately to old traditions and display intense reluctance to modify customary modes of behavior, as innovators at all times have found to their cost. The dead-weight of conservatism, largely a lazy and cowardly distaste for the strenuous and painful activity of real thinking, has undoubtedly retarded human progress...

You're absolutely right, society IS to blame for people being lazy. But the steady erosion of trade unions by Thatcher et al. has served only to disenfranchise the working masses more. People have become disconnected and apathetic about, for instance, politics, because their voices are disregarded and silent against voices of big business lobbyists which run the government, be it Labour or Tory, and run the media.

Unions help people help themselves. Yet you seem to think they are bad, and then lambast people for...not helping themselves.

They're not all good, all of the time, by any means, but their continued dissolution only serves to cheapen society.

 

[djstaffs]

Just to chip in a little here.

I doubt those who strike are lazy. I am sure those Arthur Skargill represented were far from it.
You have negotiated your wage and conditions yourself and well done. But you obviously have a talent or skill that enables you to do that. In big businesses, corporations,institutions etc that just cant happen. What do you think would be the effect of me having different pay and conditions to all the thousands of my fellow nurses? And what a nightmare for payroll etc. Without unions i dread to think where we would be and that goes for all sectors. Maybe still stuck in the 1800s where the boss said you did this for very little or you didnt work and you starved.

 

[darben]

Such as? The salary I negotiated myself? My long, un-fixed hours? My working lunches?

You forgot to mention negotiating messing around on the computer on unrelated work matters!

 

[shazbo]

never paid into one . think waste of money but depends where you work some are on managers side any why . the postys always going on strike be christmas next

 

[tek-monkey]

Can unions work for you, if you work in a small firm? I can understand the bargaining power behind one in, say, the car industry, but what about much smaller businesses? Take my job for example, I'm a web developer. How could a union pressure every small business that employs a web developer to force them to do something? A lot of small firms may only have one, how can that work?

 

[shoes]

Such as? The salary I negotiated myself? My long, un-fixed hours? My working lunches?

You forgot to mention negotiating messing around on the computer on unrelated work matters!

I'm sure if my work output was less than satisfactory I would be told. Actually I'm just given more responsibility, so must be doing something right. Admitadly i would be more productive if i was not on here but thats then setting a precident for the future which I don't particularly wish to uphold.

 

[Furbal]

Can unions work for you, if you work in a small firm? I can understand the bargaining power behind one in, say, the car industry, but what about much smaller businesses? Take my job for example, I'm a web developer. How could a union pressure every small business that employs a web developer to force them to do something? A lot of small firms may only have one, how can that work?

Trade Unions have to be recognised by the employer before they can negotiate collectively for the workforce/its members. If an employer does not voluntarily agree to this, unions can only pursue statuatory recognition if the employer has over a certain number of employees and those employees vote in favour of recognition (not sure of the exact number, but about 20 I think).

I can't think of any arguements to not be in a trade union. For a small amount each month, you effectively get job insurance, so should anything go wrong, you have access to support and legal advice, who will either fight your corner for you or just advise you on the best way to proceed. It doesn't matter whether you do your job or not, as sometimes you can find yourself in a situation that is completely out of your control - if you can deal with it yourself then great, but at least you can have advice from trained professionals if you need it.

In most trade unions you also get lots of other benefits, including discounts of mortgages, insurance, holidays and loads of other products and services, so it's very easy to not only get back the money you pay each month in discounts, but usually save much more. Personally, I save quite a large amount off my mortgage each month that more than covers the £10 I pay for membership.

On top of that you usually get access to legal assistance for almost any situation for free or at a discounted rate (not necessarily work related) and with some of the larger unions, welfare assistance.

Because of the collective bargaining power of trade unions you get higher annual pay rises, more holiday, better terms and conditions, equal, etc... You need to remember that a lot of what you take for granted in your workplace today was achieved directly by trade unions.

 

[tek-monkey]

More holidays you say?

 

[henryscat]

But i think Shoes may be right that these days they seem to have little bite.

It varies. RMT and ASLEF have done very well on behalf of their members, particularly train drivers.

 

[basil]

Can unions work for you, if you work in a small firm? I can understand the bargaining power behind one in, say, the car industry, but what about much smaller businesses? Take my job for example, I'm a web developer. How could a union pressure every small business that employs a web developer to force them to do something? A lot of small firms may only have one, how can that work?

your legal right are possibly there because unions historically sent leaders to Parliament and through the actions of Labour governments over the past 100yrs things have changed. So yes smaller businesses are influenced by unions.....

 

[tek-monkey]

Historicaly, yes, but are my rights now ever likely to be affected? Especially if as furbal says an employer must agree to be bound by any union agreements before they become enforcable? Whilst not in my case, the majority of people in my line of work will either work for small firms or be self employed.

I know this is a completely selfish 'what about me' post, but my own experiences are the only ones I have to draw from. My step dad was screwed by GEC despite being in a union, so I suppose that could colour my thoughts.

 

[Monquey]

Much as I support unions, I have to admit that they aren't directly relevant to me either, as I work in a company of 3. If I have a grievance, I can just throw something at my boss' head. Many aren't so lucky.

 

[Lucy]

The union reps aren't even allowed to step foot through the front gate here. Apparently I'd only be entitled to join the call centre union, yet I don't work in a call centre, so what exactly would they do for me, apart fromc ut my salary in line with the employees who work in our on-site call centre?

 

[Gramaisc]

Apparently I'd only be entitled to join the call centre union

You are legally entitled to join any organisation of your choice, with the exception of a very few 'proscribed' ones, mostly of a terrorist nature - unless you have, of your own free will, signed away those rights.

 

[shoes]

Trade Unions: Making the world a better place for everyone

 

[John Marwood]

The Daily Mail

Making tw*ts

Bigger TW*TS

 

[shoes]

You sympathise with this shower of lazy bastards then John?

 

[Gramaisc]

Utility bills are being delayed, bringing warnings of disconnection and legal action.

Really?

 

[db]

someone asked why i haven't logged on in so long in another thread.. tbh, it was some of ridiculous posts in this thread that were key players in me not doing so, as they were so idiotic, ill-informed, naïve, and short-sighted that i was infuriated and wanted to spend time responding to them..

now i realise it would do no good so, frankly, i can't be arsed lol..