Originally Posted by Peter_ (Post 35498671)

I have been a long term union member with 3 different unions firstly Transport and General Workers Union within the food industry both as a shop steward and then as senior health and safety representative on site, after I was made redundant I went in warehousing for a major supermarket and was a USDAW health and safety representative and went on to be a health and safety representative in another warehouse for a well known diy company, after this I went to Virgin Media where I became a CWU health and safety representative once again.

So as you can see I have had plenty of experience with different unions within different industries and would never allow myself not to be a union member as the is always support for you whenever you need it.

Originally Posted by Peter_ (Post 35498671)

I have been a long term union member with 3 different unions firstly Transport and General Workers Union within the food industry both as a shop steward and then as senior health and safety representative on site, after I was made redundant I went in warehousing for a major supermarket and was a USDAW health and safety representative and went on to be a health and safety representative in another warehouse for a well known diy company, after this I went to Virgin Media where I became a CWU health and safety representative once again.

So as you can see I have had plenty of experience with different unions within different industries and would never allow myself not to be a union member as the is always support for you whenever you need it.

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 35498681)

the thing is some people can't get past the miners strikes and think unions are only out to cause trouble ,they don't consider the wealth of things the union are involved in to make our working lives better [which for some will be up to 70 years old before they retire] ,so it might as well be as good in the workers favour as it can be you have a long working life .

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35498685)

There's no doubt they do a lot of good in the workplace, but the problem is, instead of running like a sort of workplace insurance scheme, with services available to members in return for a fee, they have actively positioned themselves as political organisations. The vast majority of trade unions continue to be affiliated to the Labour Party. For that reason I could never join one - even if I were to opt out the political levy, I would not want the fact of my membership to lend legitimacy to any of the industrial dinosaurs that lead the movement.

Originally Posted by Top banana (Post 35498701)

This is sort of thing that I can't understand with unions, this branch of the post office is closing - http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co....ail/story.html

Yet they are talking of strike action at this one - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-20357268

Wonder which will be the next one to be closed down?

Originally Posted by LondonRoad (Post 35498707)

I wouldn't want to be part of a trade union that wasn't political.

One of the main functions of a trade union is to lobby parliament to improve the lot of it's members. It will do this irrespective of you paying the political levy.

The dinosaurs still exist in the trade union movement but their influence is becoming more diluted as they become less relevant. Comparing modern trade unions to the NUM of the 70s is comparing chalk to cheese. Even those classed now as left wingers would have been consider and moderate 30 years ago.

There probably isn't a lot a trade union can do for you personally, Chris, but for millions of people they are relevant and important.

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The Gloucester office is closing after a consultation, the Bristol office is in dispute because of changes to workload. I'm not sure what comparison you're trying to make here?

Originally Posted by Top banana (Post 35498717)

Althouugh CWU have only 204K members looks like their subs are being spent in the wrong way too

http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/b...s/3769.article

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That they push companies to make uncomfortable decisions - why would they want to vote on strike action when the countrys on its arse is beyond me

Originally Posted by Top banana (Post 35498717)

That they push companies to make uncomfortable decisions - why would they want to vote on strike action when the countrys on its arse is beyond me

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 35498725)

people strike as a last resort as no one is listening to them .

Originally Posted by LondonRoad (Post 35498729)

So if your workload is suddenly doubled you'd be quite happy would you?

It's perfectly reasonable for management to look at changes. If the proposed changes impinge on an individual in a negative way then they have every right to resist those changes.

Originally Posted by Top banana (Post 35498730)

Even though they have a job when a couple of million don't, thats why I am not keen on their approach and the fact they CWU give 9 million a year to the goverment that caused all the problems in the first place - seems insane to me

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If it was a case of double your work load or we lose out to a private company and If it kept a roof over my familys head - yes

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 35498725)

people strike as a last resort as no one is listening to them .
its not fun i have been there but when your back is up against the wall and your looking down the barrel of a gun what have you got to lose.

Originally Posted by Top banana (Post 35498740)

Fair enough but I would be cheesed off if this story was true

http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/b...s/3769.article

Spending your money like this is no different to what the MPs were doing in my book

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 35498734)

you sound like vm management with your be thank-full you have a job attitude, my reply is be great-full i chose to work here and get your hand in your pocket i'm worth more :)

Originally Posted by papa smurf (Post 35498742)

your broken link is about as good as your union busting rhetoric ;)

Originally Posted by Top banana (Post 35498745)

I am thankfull, a friend of mine lost his job 4 years ago and is still unemployed, he has lost his house and his self respect - I would do whatever I had to to keep a roof over my head

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http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/b...s/3769.article