Does the mention of 'unionism' really strike fear into voters hearts today? Do people equate unionism with trouble-makers in our society?
Didn't unions strengthen workers' collective bargaining powers, which they used to negotiate improved wages, shorter hours, better workplace conditions, and fringe benefits.

In the silver and zinc mines of Broken Hill, New South Wales, the miners won the world's first thirty-five hour week, half a century ahead of Europe and America. Long before most of the world, Australia had a minimum wage, child benefits,pensions, and the vote for women...

At some point in our working lives - we all belonged to a union. Be it a 'student's union' at uni or a professional association or union associated with our work ... so why the fear?

Yes, those were the days ...

How I miss the industrial unrest when, as a young mother on the widow's pension with three children under four years of age, I was unable to access public transport because the buses were on strike.

How fondly I remember having to load the whole family into a taxi and have the driver take me to no less than three different ATM locations to access my money - because the first two were closed for servicing.

How I enjoyed paying the massive fare out of my meagre fortnightly allowance. How grateful I was for the trade unions.

How happy I was when my family drowned in rubbish during the garbage strike. All the rich, and even the middle class, simply hopped in their cars and took their waste to the tip. Not so the poor, who were stuck with it. The kids looked so sweet cavorting among the refuse spilling out over the yard, and not a single one was lost to cholera or dysentery.

Oh, how we would laugh when friends had their honeymoons ruined due to air strikes!

And how charming to watch the evening television footage of big, bogan thugs intimidating and bullying those who dared to disagree with them and actually wanted to work. "Put in the boot," we would yell, "Put in the boot!"

What a wonderful industrial relations system it was. Even I joined the student union when I began my tertiary studies. How empowered I felt to discover that choice was simply not an option. How I appreciated them donating money to the political party of their choice on my behalf.

Fortunately, it appears that the good old days are just around the corner again. Peace and prosperity are obviously just so boring. There's nothing like a bit of conflict to make for interesting times.

61 how good of you to expose your lack of understanding, much of todays living standards we owe to those who won them union members.
We can focus on bad things or even bad unions both exist, or we can truly contemplate life without unions.
About 22% in total of us are in unions, yet believe me most pay rates are set with unions in mind.
Even those who are radical anti union often pay one dollar over award in AWAs just to keep unions at bay.
Increasingly and wisely unions are refusing to fix it, for non unionists in trouble.
For far too long union officials have let the idea of fair go mate , get non members out of trouble.
You can not expect that to continue smash your car then insure it? no longer going to happen.
This may not increase membership but daily is reminding some why unions are just workplace insurance.
I a proud union official drove for 7 hours yesterday to spend 1 hour over lunch with members .
No warfare no heat no hate just issues resolved every one of them and hand shakes all round.

unions are parasites, they only exist to steal employers wealth. employers are bandits, greedy, selfish, and cruel.

we better find a different way, as this unending war between capital and labor is extremely inefficient, as well as socially disruptive.

there are other models of economic society, that have potential for rewarding energy and ambition while allowing all to make a decent living. we won't break out of this dysfunctional model until we stop accepting the status quo as 'good enough'.

What's the alternative to a union?. Faith in my employer to watch out for me?. Faith in the government to help me if I wake up without a job?.

I'm not a massive unionist, but I also don't have any faith in my employer to do right by me if it comes to the crunch.

Workers Compensation, OH & S, employer sponsored superannuation, paid annual leave, maternity leave, Medicare, the award system and pay rises through collective bargaining.

These are just some of the things lobbied and fought for by the Union movement that we all take for granted today.

How many of these were just spontaneously handed out by philanthropic employers and governments? None?

Most of these are now either under threat or being compromised for the sake of ideology and once they’re gone, they won’t be coming back.

Who else would have fought James Hardie on behalf of the victims of asbestos-related diseases?