Belly, i have been a Union Official for 20 years.I have worked for 2 Unions twice. The AMWU and the LHMU. So this poster knows first hand and over an extended period, the worth and quality of your employer. I still remember as a young 28 year old commencing for the AMWU, when i realised that not all unions believed in solidarity.In those days we had the ASE,FIA and the AWU all backstabbing other unions and workers. It was no surprise to see them all amalgamate in the early 9o's. All three unions were the union of choice for the employer. My proudest moment as a unionist was as a young shop steward, kicking the FIA out of a factory and joining all the labourers and Trade Assistants into the Metal Workers Union. As one dinkum Union we then proceeded to become a factory paying above award wages and Super years before it became an Award entitlement.AWU was and remains a blot on the landscape.

hedghog you will unless blind notice I have realy tried to stop from insulting other unions.
Beleave me I will defend untill death centre right trade unions and workers rights.
I personaly out of my pocket have donated a lot more than I could aford to your unions picket lines.
Truth is you and I can understand we must differ, I have views on extremism you would not like.
After this incomeing Labor goverment brings IR reform, you and I must change the union movement must change, it is no sin to be a conservative worker friendly unionist.
I proudly have been a AWU member for longer than you understand, our ranks are full of ex officials from many unions , our members do not share your view.
Reform? can you understand that workplace justice is for all workers? that while only 25% are unionists true reform may well mean Liberal voters may want a fair go at work?
Do not give your union a halo, nore any right wing one the shaft reality has a part to play I am sure your British born leader understands that.
And understand ALL unions have air theaves that is true and sad none has more or less than an others.

WHAT ?

One of the ways Labor must be brave enought to bring honest change includes workplace reform.
Not the Howard workchoice but we must come to an understanding that Australian workers want different outcomes than some extremist radical left unions.
It is not hard to understand radical actions includeing standover tactics helped put us in this position, this is my truely held view.
I have seen teams of 3 union oficials visit workplaces in a fashion not unlike thugs.
Without shame I will fallow my commitment to a better fairer workplace ,and a more responsive election wining ALP , neather will be found in the dream world of the extreme left
Hedgehog, let my members judge me, and while I wonder why truely an oficial known for guts and total comitment fron the other construction union has said I am the best oficial in a quarter of my state?
Its no big deal my ego is not a problem I am only concerned at what workers think of me.
However for years this is as close as I have come to a blue with another unions oficial.
I am a working class Australian and oposed to the extreme left, most in fact always the majority of us are, live with it brother, I have no comrades but 2 million brothers.

The Unions brought WorkChoices on themselves? Belly you have the political antenae of an ant. You continue to delude yourself that employers want an equitable (win win) arrangement with thier workers.
Who do you think demanded that the Howard Gov. produce this venomouus attack on working mums and dads? What employer or employer body has spoken out against them? Belly when the electorate is given a choice between true Tories (Howard, Costello, Abbott) and Tories pretending not to be Tories (Beasley, Smith, Shorten) they vote for the real ones everytime.Workers need to look to the French if they are to salvage any of thier dignity and hard won rights.It is clear to me that you spend your days deluding yourself that you are usefull. You are an appeaser,however i suspect it is not your fault. You just fell in with the wrong crowd, and dont read much.

My post had to change it was writen and honest just a bit rude and it did not serve the trade union movement best so here it is.
Howard even started his own postal workers union a very long while ago, not bad for a bloke who does not read much.
He and his followers want to create a new working poor and a true unionist must opose this forever.
If your union has a picket line that you can not man I will do it for you! go to prison for you with pride too.
But in 1998 I was not amung the rabble who smashed windows in parlement house nore will you find me marching for left wishs.
I will not defend the air theaves in all unions who fail to understand the honor it is to serve workers, and those who think workplaces are warzones have my pity.
In a recent state wide EBA my union me in fact increased the offer in every major issue by simple demanding fairness not screaming, that mate is why my members include a good number who came and asked to change to our union service, and the promise we will never let you down is another reason.
I am from the NSW Labor cenre right, the only home for an election wining ALP and my union is proudly with its members at work always.
Never devalue my TOTAL comitment to fairness at work mate a worker however has views of his/her own and we have bugger all right to ask them to think like us, right or left its not our choice.