Terje, I would like to leave you with a thought of fairness, a cornerstone of the Australian psyhe....
" For a worker to refuse to belong to a union is not an exercise in democratic freedom. It is to accept benefits that others have worked for without contributing to the costs. Democracy flourishes only when freedom is accompanied by responsibility" in other words the wages and conditions enjoyed by todays employees is not heaven sent the employee who have joined a union, have fought over 78 years for them, and if you want to come along and take them, without contributing to the unions costs to win these conditions for the workforce, and gain better wages and conditions in the future, and don't join a union, in my opinion, that makes you a bludger on your fellow employees who have contributed.

I a trade union official would never think it was my right or duty to tell a unionist how to think on Iraq or any issue.
I have wasted my time informing the ALP how construction workers thought on issues.
While I want a goverment change unions do not have the right, duty, or means to make members think as they want in politics.
However by containing myself to union matters, always answering the phone, never knowingly letting a member down, I witness trust and growth and true frendship from my members and me to them daily.
Its not a hard task, but astounding that any who can not produce these results are officials.
Again the view that unions have a right to demand anyone think in political one way tracks devalues and harms the real reason unions exist.
It is true however that this active ALP member voted for a man he would never be able to like or trust in the last election, but that was my choice no one twisted my arm.
And no secret my union is the AWU.

I too find it disturbing, that illiterate morons not only parasite of my union fees, but then attempt to dictate to me , or claim to voice my views on such issues as bringing democracy to Iraq , or who we should let into our country. I am surprised that Peter Lewis has attached his name to this article.