Unions

[Janbha]

Reading through the thread about the current and coming strikes planned by the postmen and binmen, those opposed to the strikes seem to be saying there is not really nothing worth striking for,so with that in mind do you believe that unions are therefore now a waste of time joining, infact have no point at all in the current climate ? what reasons would those opposed to striking find acceptable to go on strike if any

 

[Uncle C]

This man has almost single handedly undermined the value of Unions

 

[Beach Hut]

It is worth remaining in the union to protect your employment but striking does not work these days.

 

[northampton_seagull]

Those opposed to the strikes seem to be saying there is not really nothing worth striking for,

What the f*** does this mean? The old double negative means everything is worth striking for.

 

[Janbha]

What the f*** does this mean? The old double negative means everything is worth striking for.

ok thanks for your input dear

 

[El Presidente]

I think the train drivers will beg to differ. £40k a year for holding a lever in one hand and reading the Daily Star in the other, and all thanks to the RMU!

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

I think the train drivers will beg to differ. £40k a year for holding a lever in one hand and reading the Daily Star in the other, and all thanks to the RMU!

Watching out for red lights comes in handy at times as well.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

The binmen are taking industrial action as a result of workers winning equal pay rights. Jobs with a similar skill competency mainly performed by women were paid less historically in the public sector. Instead of uprating teaching assistants jobs to match the binmen , local councils all around the country are equalising pay at the lesser salary.

 

[Uncle C]

The binmen are taking industrial action as a result of workers winning equal pay rights. Jobs with a similar skill competency mainly performed by women were paid less historically in the public sector. Instead of uprating teaching assistants jobs to match the binmen , local councils all around the country are equalising pay at the lesser salary.

So why in the current climate should all pay move towards the highest common denominator and not the lowest?

 

[Arthur]

Trade unions are pretty much the main reason why we don't produce anything in this country any more.

Only people who are workshy people in the public sector join them.

The funny thing is it's the same people who are the most vocal about the bankers at the moment.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

So why in the current climate should all pay move towards the highest common denominator and not the lowest?

The legal battle has been going on for several years , the premise was that women were being underpaid for doing a similar job and should be paid the same as their male counterparts. You wouldn't like it if you went into work on Monday morning and get told that your employee was going to cut you pay by £5k year to bring you in line with the tea lady's earnings.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

So why in the current climate should all pay move towards the highest common denominator and not the lowest?

What do you do? You clearly dont work. I reckon you've just started A levels.

 

[cunning fergus]

Not without their fat pigs either:

Bob Crow (RMT) - £79,564 in salary, £26,115 in pension contributions, £13,013 expenses
John Hannett (USDAW) - £81,742 salary, £16,389 pension contributions
Billy Hayes (CWU) - £83,530 salary, £14,190 pension contributions
Sally Hunt (UCU) - £63,743 salary, £7,612 pension contributions, £2705 car benefit (start of June 2006 to end of May 2007)
Paul Kenny (GMB) - £81,000 salary, £21,000 superannuation (pension contributions), £8,000 car
Dave Prentis (Unison) - £92,187 salary, £23,603 pension contributions, £11,646 expenses and car benefit
Derek Simpson (Unite-Amicus) - £62,673 salary, £16,156 pension contributions, £13,333 car allowance, £26,181 housing benefit
Mark Serwotka (PCS) - £82,094 salary, £26,104 pensions contributions, £2,245 additional housing cost allowance and additional housing cost supplement
Steve Sinnott (NUT) - £99,846 salary, £23,963 pension contributions
Tony Woodley (Unite-TGWU) - £59,333 salary, £9,552 pension contributions, car fuel £3,360
Matt Wrack (FBU) - £66,389 salary, £44,281 pension contributions, £5,134 car

According to the Times (17/01/09), Derek Simpson receives nearly £200,000 in pay and benefits, his pay package having increased 17 percent this year.

He also has the right to stay in his £800,000 house in Hertfordshire until he dies, after which his partner will be able to remain there at a heavily subsidised rate.

But then Simpson's partner in crime Woodley has expensive tastes too. Like Woodley he has had the use of a grace-and-favour house owned by the union also in Hertfordshire but despite this perk he has regularly stays in the Waldorf Hilton. When this was exposed by the Telegraph Unite said:

"He is the joint leader of a multi-million-pound organisation, in which capacity he represents our members in dealings with employers of all sizes, including leaders of global companies as well as government.

"It would be undermining to his ability to deliver for those members if the union prioritised cheapness of accommodation above appropriate facilities and location as necessary for the particular event."

Must be a comfort to the members to know that?

I wonder if they play Croquet too?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Not without their fat pigs either:

Bob Crow (RMT) - £79,564 in salary, £26,115 in pension contributions, £13,013 expenses
John Hannett (USDAW) - £81,742 salary, £16,389 pension contributions
Billy Hayes (CWU) - £83,530 salary, £14,190 pension contributions
Sally Hunt (UCU) - £63,743 salary, £7,612 pension contributions, £2705 car benefit (start of June 2006 to end of May 2007)
Paul Kenny (GMB) - £81,000 salary, £21,000 superannuation (pension contributions), £8,000 car
Dave Prentis (Unison) - £92,187 salary, £23,603 pension contributions, £11,646 expenses and car benefit
Derek Simpson (Unite-Amicus) - £62,673 salary, £16,156 pension contributions, £13,333 car allowance, £26,181 housing benefit
Mark Serwotka (PCS) - £82,094 salary, £26,104 pensions contributions, £2,245 additional housing cost allowance and additional housing cost supplement
Steve Sinnott (NUT) - £99,846 salary, £23,963 pension contributions
Tony Woodley (Unite-TGWU) - £59,333 salary, £9,552 pension contributions, car fuel £3,360
Matt Wrack (FBU) - £66,389 salary, £44,281 pension contributions, £5,134 car

According to the Times (17/01/09), Derek Simpson receives nearly £200,000 in pay and benefits, his pay package having increased 17 percent this year.

He also has the right to stay in his £800,000 house in Hertfordshire until he dies, after which his partner will be able to remain there at a heavily subsidised rate.

But then Simpson's partner in crime Woodley has expensive tastes too. Like Woodley he has had the use of a grace-and-favour house owned by the union also in Hertfordshire but despite this perk he has regularly stays in the Waldorf Hilton. When this was exposed by the Telegraph Unite said:

"He is the joint leader of a multi-million-pound organisation, in which capacity he represents our members in dealings with employers of all sizes, including leaders of global companies as well as government.

"It would be undermining to his ability to deliver for those members if the union prioritised cheapness of accommodation above appropriate facilities and location as necessary for the particular event."

Must be a comfort to the members to know that?

I wonder if they play Croquet too?

These all seem reasonable salaries for such positions and for the level of responsibility goes with them.

 

[Uncle C]

What do you do? You clearly dont work. I reckon you've just started A levels.

Thanks

 

[seagullsoverlincoln]

The legal battle has been going on for several years , the premise was that women were being underpaid for doing a similar job and should be paid the same as their male counterparts. You wouldn't like it if you went into work on Monday morning and get told that your employee was going to cut you pay by £5k year to bring you in line with the tea lady's earnings.

I think this refers to to the strike in Leeds-the councils attitude is both
unbelievable and disgraceful

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Reading through the thread about the current and coming strikes planned by the postmen and binmen, those opposed to the strikes seem to be saying there is not really nothing worth striking for,so with that in mind do you believe that unions are therefore now a waste of time joining, infact have no point at all in the current climate ? what reasons would those opposed to striking find acceptable to go on strike if any

If you have access to a union you should think about joining it IMHO. Its not all about strikes. If you work at a screen-based job in the UK, your company is almost certainly looking at farming your job out to Bangalore or the Philipines or anywhere else on the planet with a lower cost base. Unions can't stop that happening, but they can help ensure that you get a more decent severence payment in that eventuality than you would have had otherwise. Similarly, if you feel you are being unfairly victmised at work, they can help. In the end, the unions to varying degrees are a bit of a buffer between you and being thrown to the dogs as the Institute Of Directors would prefer. How can that be a bad thing?

 

[KNC]

It is worth remaining in the union to protect your employment but striking does not work these days.

I disagree, the 'threat' of a strike, usually 'enhances negotiation.

 

[KNC]

Trade unions are pretty much the main reason why we don't produce anything in this country any more.

Only people who are workshy people in the public sector join them.

The funny thing is it's the same people who are the most vocal about the bankers at the moment.

OMG, are you serious?

Look I would agree that in the 70s, things got a bit stupid. But, nowadays, I think you will find that most unions work well for their members.

 

[Ernest]

OMG, are you serious?

Look I would agree that in the 70s, things got a bit stupid. But, nowadays, I think you will find that most unions work well for their members.

Especially when they have top people as their local reps