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The Forum > Article Comments > Workers solidarity, but only for a few > Comments

Workers solidarity, but only for a few : Comments

By Andrew Leigh, published 11/3/2005

Andrew Leigh argues union membership is declining because changes to laws; market competition; rising inequality; and, structural change in the labour market.

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The unions served their purpose in the past.They stopped true exploitataion of the worker.The era of micro businesses, multi-nationals and big socialists Govt,have seen a ground shift away from unions.In the past,the unions simply had too much power.
I think we need to look at sub-contracting all workers.This gives the worker flexibility of work hours,and the capacity to earn far more.It also increases producivity.Why not give the worker the option?There could be a very simple formula to determuine the extra pay for a sub-contract basis.Many workers just fill in time with no productivity as a part of a wage package.Why not be paid twice as much and they can oraganise their own work insurances etc.Next step,totally eliminate income tax and be taxed on turnover.No imput tax credits.Only contractors and business have to bother with "turnover tax".
There would be more flexibility,and a greater capacity for all to earn more.Workers could go home early if they were efficient and see their families.Our unions and Govt treat ordinary workers as fools who are incapable of organising their own work and lives.The major obstacle is all the interest groups such as accountants,lawyers,and Govt bureaurarcy that will lose their jobs.
The mentality of turning up and just doing the time has got to go!
Posted by Arjay, Saturday, 12 March 2005 9:51:55 PM
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I think you are missing one of the biggest contributing factors - a lack of young members.

If you look at the census data - average membership age is well above 35.

Many kids have no idea what unions are.

Older members need to start educating their kids, and ACTU/affiliates need to get serious about youth recruitment/education if they are to ensure their survival.
Posted by mscobina, Sunday, 13 March 2005 3:40:28 PM
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Arjay.

The solution is not more atomisation or individualisation.

The solution is a return to collective bargining.
Posted by mscobina, Sunday, 13 March 2005 3:41:57 PM
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Another factor which is rarely acknowledged as a deterent to union membership is the ties between unions and the ALP. Personally I think ALP governments hurt workers much more often than Liberal/National governments (I was in the electricity industry in the mid 80's and am in it under teflon Pete).

In my own union one of the chief officers of the union is also a senior figure in the state ALP. Why were none of the unions talking about meetings they should have had with the government about underspending on the Qld electricity network? The issues were well known to workers and union organisers in the preceeding years.

With a state ALP government that has got to be a fairly big conflict of interest for disputes in government owned companies. Will a union officer also holding office in the ALP be willing to hurt the ALP electorally if it comes to the crunch or will they shut up and let the members suffer.

I know there is historical reasons for the close ties but if unions are concerned about falling membership then perhaps they should be reconsidering the impact of those ties both on their ability to protect workers from ALP governments and the impact on discussions with non ALP governments.
Posted by R0bert, Monday, 14 March 2005 12:12:14 PM
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Mscobina,collective bargining is collective mediocrity.We will then have too many collective interest groups that produce nothing,fighting for the rights of individuals,and at the same time demanding more taxes should be paid on behalf of the individuals, whom they are proporting to protect.Give us a break,don't we have enough bureauracy?Forget unions,just have a minium wage that allows people to live, save and enough to buy the products they produce.A simple formula could be enshrined in legislation. A worker who is rewarded and has the capacity to invest, will produce far more than a slave who plots the the demise of his master.
Posted by Arjay, Monday, 14 March 2005 10:31:41 PM
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Dickens fan - eh?
Posted by mscobina, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 7:12:19 PM
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