Paul says the class conflict model is outdated, yet 25 years of the ACTU and other union leaders adopting the trickle down theory - what's good for the boss is good for the worker - has been a complete failure for the union movement and now for workers living standards and jobs as the global economic crisis begins to hit Australia.

There is a correlation between falling strike days (which reflect the adoption of the trickle down theory) and falling union membership.

The wages share of GDP is at its lowest share in 40 years, despite that fact that we had until recently been in 16 years of economic boom.

What will happen with the economy going into recession and unemployment likely to hit 6 per cent by the end of next year(ie an extra 200,000 unemployed)?

All the class collaboration in the world by the union leadership - leading to low union membership, low wages share of GDP, trade offs of conditions hard won through struggle in previous years and the destruction of rank and file networks across the union landscape - has not insulated Australia from the systemic crises of capitalism. Some reward for the union leaderships' worshipping at the altar of profit.

This class collaboration has opened the door for more brutal attacks on workers living standards when the recession hits.

That's what WorkChoices and now WorkChoices Lite are aimed at. The HowRuddistas will use their version of WorkChoices to attack workers' living standards in the name of profit.

Capitalism is necessarily class divided, so all talk of collaboration can only end in tears. The interests of workers and bosses are fundamentally opposed, and the recession will make that clear.

You say such ideas are outmoded. Are their class divisions? Who owns and controls the means of production? Who exploits workers by stealing the surplus they create? Does wage slavery still exist?

The old class based solution - unions taking strike action to increase wages and defend jobs - is as valid now as it was 40 years ago when the union movement was at its peak.

I must take a different path I have no doubts at all some degree of partnership is needed.
Not a sell out but not needless war either in fact every union, yes right and left has let its members down some times.
We however must confront the truth, no masses keen to start industrial war exist.
Ex unionists are going to remain ex unionists even if tomorrow brings a depression and it may well.
We must stop trading away conditions for membership cards but no lurch to the left is coming in my view.
I have concerns at actions that blacken the whole union movement, some needlessly radical unions that turn more away from the movement that they ever bring to it.

“Significantly, this included establishment of £5 million “Partnership Fund” which was part of a set of legislative reforms encouraging industry to embrace the concept of partnership through the adoption of initiatives to find ways best develop consensus and understanding between unions and employers.”

Well I don’t think throwing around taxpayers money will work.

My daughter works for an insurance company.

Like many companies, the employee-employer relationship, for her has been advanced by the employee share scheme, under which she recieves ordinary shares the purchase of which are artially or occassionally total funded by her employer.

She is not unique. Hundreds of companies have used such innovations for decades.

“Whatever past political and ideological positions, unions and employers will need to understand the interests of workers is in the best interest for the firm, and recognised such shared interests will provide value not only for shareholders in the future but also for workers.”

That statement includes three parties. Unions, employers and workers.

The best interests of workers can be and are addressed directly between the employer and the worker. The union is not an “essential ingredient” and can often be a distraction, pushing its own agenda, regardless of the interests of the employee or worker.

This whole article is merely a propaganda spew to promote the illegitimate interests of compulsory unionism