Belly, Do you have a problem with literacy? I mentioned nothing in my post concerning "the left", What I asked was why dont the ALP move to the CENTRE, perhaps you also have a cmprehension problem, as you say the awu is increasing it's membership, which is very true, but nyou fail to mention how it is doing that. In Queensland, is it done by the awu undercutting other unions, e.g former Australian company MIM Mt Isa Mines site, the awu applied to cover the whole site, and of course MIM were delighted, they would rather contend with the awu, than other unions who actually represent their members with gusto. My opinion is one formed from personal experience with the awu, when my wife woked for Townsville's Casino. She had a problem, my union the ASU would bend over backwards to assist me in any workplace grievence I had, but when I went to the awu on behalf of my wife, the Branch Secretary had to be pressured into taking some action, and then, did nothing for my wife, that was of any use.
The awu seems to gain members through agreements with employers rather than recruiting new members any other way, as they take the company's side in every dispute that I have been involved with them.
I once worked at a nickel refinery, had to join as part of the conditions of the job, as the awu had made an agreement with the employer, and any issue that arose the organiser would turn up and ask us to go back to work, even if we had a safety issue. We had to, as a group apply pressure to him, to actually represent us, all you "left paronoia" of utopia ect suggests that the right is always right, and never wrong, if this is the case, I repeat, God help the workforce,

Well yes I in fact do have a problem with literacy, see I left school at age 12 years and ten months for good.
I had rarely atended in any case, work and helping to feed the survivers of my 15 siblings came first yes 16 kids.
My reading was learnt far later and writeing was harder still, spelling and gramar?asking a bit much.
But in what way is IQ messured by good formation of letters? how can your opinion be of more value than mine because of differing life experences?
My union ,my members are growing and thats fact.
We gain membership because we outservice others and get results without threats and fear tactics.
Each card I HAND OUT EVERY SINGLE ONE! has these words from me given with it as it comes back signed,^I will NEVER let you down^
And I MEAN IT!
If I could come to your wifes worksite I would work free of charge to fix her problems honestly!
See I have a fatel flaw, with my sole my very heart and guts I think it is an honour and a priveledge to be a union official.
That 24/7 a union official must understand he sits in a seat others fought for and he is duty bound to leave it better for those to come.
Indivuals do let this movement and those who own it the workers down in all unions.
I will not withdraw my remarks about leftist unions my union is right with those who always elect Australian goverments , middle Australia.

workers and working class values did not begin with unions.

Belly, i am sure your hearts in the right place. However calling the AWU a top Union is risable. Wake up and smell the Roses. I am sure you are a loyal foot soldier with no influence over AWU machinations, however take it from me, they are Grubby, grubby and downright untrustworthy. Your Billy is the Big End of towns reserve player, just in case Labor ever gets back in to power.You cant back him and claim to back the workers.One of his best mates is the head of the Institute of Public Affairs. Before u respond, check out who they are and what they do.

Rainier “workers and working class values did not begin with unions. “

I agree with that statement

However

I am a worker – presently 6 day a week between a government role, a finance company role, a computer company role and a consultancy company role.

My parents might have been called “working / middle” class (that is working class and broke because they scraped enough together to afford to pay a house mortgage and call themselves middle class). I perosonally only measure myself by socio-economic grouping – a classless state usually associated with the degree of financial independence.

“Working class” is just a label which means nothing to anyone who can think.

“working class values” is an oxymoron which is really an absence of real values and bland acceptance of the lowest common denominator.

As for unions – workers and working class values are the drums which the union movement beat in their soulless rant to divide and conquer.

As I heard on the Radio in the past few days – the problem with the union movement is they have focused on confrontational issues of power and control and ignored the real aspirational opportunities which abound.

Working class means nothing to anyone who can think!? be confedent in your self its ok, but are you just a bit to easely convinced?
My AWU yes it is mine but far from a foot soldier I speak for me.
For my lifes expeareances and for the great AWU.
Finding Shorten in the center is calming for me, my every brain cell tells me that is the only place voters look for leadership in Australia.
Long ago the light on that hill turned off, like middle Australia I eat and live well, but look for reforms crafted by a careing goverment not hacked out with an axe.
Can you not understand radical unionism far from protecting workers rights bought this on us?
Far from shrinking the AWU has held its membership and without effort became a refuge for unionists who find and seak us out as a refuge from radicalism.
My heart is indeed in the right place, with ALL unions and ALL workers against Howard till death.
In time soon to come prisons will hold many who will not back down to Howard both officials and members will be arrested, at that time I will have little doupt that I at least am both proud AUSSIE and working class.