Why bash Unions, they only exist because employers exploit and rip off workers, providing unsafe environments?

Question

Before bashing unions, ask yourself why do they exist?

I believe that in the past they have used extreme measures, but they up against a powerful and ruthless business community (not all).

Did anyone see the Liberls in Tasmania to make sure the miners got out safely...no! It was the unions!

How many workers died and didn't go home to their children while making the Harbour Bridge! Unions protect us from having to work in those conditions.

The Howard government argue against Unions for every pay rise you get! The Liberls go once a year (usually September) to the Industrial Relations Commission and argue why you shouldn't get one, the Commissioner weighs up both sides and makes a decision! This is despite the rising interest rates and rising cost of living!

Why WORKCHOICES?....Its easy and goes back to the old saying "United we stand.....divided we fall"

Howard is trying to divide workers so they have NO power against Employers! Its makes the boss rich and you poorer!

No your right, its the word 'Why' that makes it a question!

Does your parent know your on the computer? Theres a question!

This is an AUSTRALIAN QUESTION!!!!

Working for 15 years!!

Gunit F....I didn't say that the current system rips of workers, I said employers rip off workers and through Unions we have developed a system that has progressively protected workers from idiots like yourself.

The system is not 100 years old and out of date, it began 100 years ago and has changed through that period to reflect the values of a modern working society.

Why don't you and your Liberal mates get back on the first fleet and return to your home land with your 200 year old WORKCHOICES laws because that's how far it is going to take us back!! Slavery, working poor ring any bells!

Answer 1

I have been in a union since I began my working life, and have found them an excellent resource.

I've never had to go to the union for help against an employer, because I have learned the ropes from the ground up, and believe in my skills and abilities as an employee.

My bosses haven't always been great, but I don't worry too much ~ if I don't like it, I've never had a hard time finding someothing else.

However, after a lifetime's work, I am fully aware that not everyone is confident, articulate, outspoken, capable or able to speak well.

Some people cannot read and write, others have english language difficulties or have disabilities which make it hard for them to think clearly about their rights at work.

Others are young, inexperienced or naive.

I am glad that when I was 15, I didn't have to 'negotiate' fair working conditions and a pay packet that would have been sufficient to meet my needs and pay my way. I'm also glad I wasn't in the position of being an adult migrant without english skills, or a person of limited education, or someone with borderline developmental delay, because those groups often have real difficulty in negotiatng well for their own benefit.

I have no doubts about my ability to do so NOW, but thanks to the Union members of the past and present, I and other young Australians did not have to struggle for $3 an hour, as the young people today who work in fast food joints do.

Most of the conditions that Howard and his hench-idiots are trying to suck away today were fought and won by union members ~ the eight hour day, equal pay, overtime penalty rates, weekend pay, annual leave provisions, the list goes on.

Even Compulsory Superannuation was a Union initiative which the Keating LABOR Government introduced. And what is one major factor in keeping our economy strong and our national credit rating excellent? High levels of individual savings. Yep, SUPER!!!!

Even today, it is unions in the forefront of the fight against the inequities of Work Choices, another example of unions standing up for the little person.

Cheers :-)

Answer 2

whaaaaaat? I don't believe the worker of today will be taken advantage of the same as they were back in the days when unions were formed. I've been employed by three different companies that had unions. In each and every case the unions were much more destructive than what they were a help. When Eastern Airlines went under, the union members had a very hard Christmas. But the union bosses that caused the failure of the airline were all feasting on big dinners and their kids all had many gifts under the tree. All paid for by the out of work members. The other two employer experiences were no better. Your union dues also go directly to the Democratic National Party. Not one of my favorite organizations. And would Detroit be in as bad a shape now as they are, if not for unions? The union boss's are not suffering, that, I can guarantee you.

Answer 3

TODAY'S UNION BOSSES AND ORGANIZERS handle workers as badly as the Employers did before unions arose.
When they first began to succeed, they were indeed justified in their existence. They haven't been the same since Jimmy Hoffa disappeared.
In most parts of this Nation, however, any honest man could be sure of an honest day's pay for an honest day's work.
Now it's just a scam to benefit the organization rather than the workers. Nobody in he workforce benefits if the Employer is BANKRUPTED BY Collective Bargaining [sic] Union Demands.

Answer 4

I have been a member of AMWU since early 1990's, when i started working.
I know that there is a distinct and fundamental reason for having unions and the place and importance in which they hold in today and yeaterdays society. Every where my dad worked, he got ripped off because he was not in any union and was anti union, we were a poor family. I have been a member all my working life and have ensured wherever i work that i have strong representation when it comes to negotiationg working conditions and rates of pay, because i know that big business has plenty of pull and they have plenty of resources to fight you as an individual with. Its clearly demonstrated by the way some comanies do business in the public arena, treating customers like crap or making them pay top dollar for poor service or product (think banks, supermarkets) I would not workk for these sorts of organisations without protection from a union, because clearly they would only expliot their workers in the same way as they do to their customers.
Some employers are good, but most and especially publicly listed (stock exchange listed) companies are making profit for their shareholders and nothing makes a shareholder happier than seeing massive profits at the end of the year!

Answer 5

Well, you've clearly never worked for a Union.

They ensure you work in patently unsafe work environments, getting paid half as much as the people around you despite the fact that you're doing ALL of their work, with no hope of advancement (gotta love those "seniority" glass ceilings!) and for this privilege, they steal a large chunk of your paycheck and give it to their political bedmates.

There is no greater exploiter of the worker in the world today than Big Labor.

Answer 6

I have been in Food Processing for quite a while. I started as a union employee but for the most part I have either worked in Management or in Marketing. My view of the unions could seem inverted to most

As a union employee I hated the union. I saw our particular union as being an ineffective pyramid scheme designed to enrich those at the top and merely took my money away.

As a manager I learned to appreciate them. I realize that the more my workers get paid the more I get paid. I also appreciate that if you pay workers more you get better employees to begin with and they stick around and get more experience.

I used to run a plant, the third shift utilized about 18 sanitation employees (union). Most of the employees had about 6 years of experience. They were paid 14 dollars per hour, a good wage in Oklahoma. The plant was sold and now uses non union workers at the rate of 8 dollars per hour. Turnover is 100%, even illegals do not like to work for nothing in a harsh climate in the middle of the night. Instead of 18 employees they now use 30 and the plant is not nearly as sanitary. Because it is not as clean they lost contracts and now do not run as many lines yet they still need 30 empoyees.

This is one member of management that says look for the union label.

Answer 7

Unions........Without Small Business people would NOT have jobs and then there would be NO UNIONS, so "be thankful for small mercies."

When the GST came in, everyone complained about it and now that we are used to it, nothing is really said about it.

Let WORKCHOICES "sort itself out" and give it a go.

Are Australians actually living above their means in comparison to the rest of the world?

By that I mean above average wages, living & work conditions etc.

If this is the case, what have we to complain about?

Have a real good look at other countries and a good think about it!!!!

Answer 8

The only ones to benefit from Unions are the union bosses. Brainwashing employees into believing that they must become a member.
I have worked for a major airline in australia and i have seen how these unions work.
I would have been far better off without the union controlling/dictating that workplace. It would have been more productive BY FAR as the unions protected the LAZY people who wanted a free ride!!!

Answer 9

Unions steal money from workers to keep for themselves and funnel to their political puppetmasters while ENSURING that work conditions remain fundamentally unsafe. Unions are the biggest exploiters of workers there are.

Answer 10

Just because you added a question mark at the end, doesn't make it a question.

Um, ok, here then.
I never heard anyone "bash" a union, and you haven't given an example of that happening.

I think it's pretty much considered standard that unions exist.
Except for in Texas (where I live), because we are a "right to work" state.
Now, we survive pretty well, and I think you will find one of the "richest" states.

There was a time when unions were needed, but, as it stands now, not so much.

The government already regulates some of the "fairness" issues that unions are supposed to work with.

As far as raises, that's the beauty of working. You as an individual decide how much you will get paid by proving yourself in your field. Ask for a raise, if you don't get one, find a new boss. Your choice.

And no, this was not a question, it was a political statement wrapped between "Why" and "?"

and why is it that the first thing you want to go to is what you percieve someone's age to be? I turned 30 this passed Sunday smart @$$