The thread began with the question "Does the mention of 'unionism' really strike fear into voters hearts today? Do people equate unionism with trouble-makers in our society?"

And so I shared some of my personal pain.

I believe I am not alone in having suffered. I heard yesterday of a township in Western Australia who lost their primary industry during the pilots' strike of 1989 (because the pilots' $200K+ salaries weren't worth getting out of bed for). Apparently this exporting business, employing 400 locals, was ruined and has been reduced to a single restaurant where they have placed a sign that tells the story of the community grief and pain.

Is unionism a four letter word to them? How lightly are our hurts forgotten?

When unions had great power they abused it.

Am I afraid of them rising in power again?

You bet.

Am I anti-union?

I challenge anyone to find a post where I have said any such thing.

I am a romantic at heart. I love Jack Lang and the Green Bans. I love Lech Walesa. I love the coal miners of the nineteenth century, and the great causes they fought and even died for.

If all the unions went on strike tomorrow on behalf of the millenium development goals, I'd be cheering from the stands and I'd tighten my belt and batten down the hatches and I'd stand with them shoulder to shoulder. Or if they finally addressed the issue of equal pay for women, they would be my heroes and I'd put pin-ups of Sharan Burrow on my bedroom wall.

Sadly employers are not the only ones susceptible to greed. They are not the only ones who oppress the poor and weak. There is no union that defends the senior members of the community or the young mothers or the kids with no dad. There is no union that defends the unemployed or the disabled or the sick.

All these people are collateral damage in the "Cold War" logic of government, employer and union superpowers and who has the biggest stick

Once more into the breach...

>>And Pericles, You say: "And while there may be a tiny minority of employers who are using this as a loophole to continue to oppress their workforce, most are tearing their hair out at the additional expense, and potential to end up in court for no reason."

You would be able to give us the source of your statistical evidence, I presume? "A tiny minority of employers"? "Most are tearing their hair out"? Or is this mere opinion?<<

Mere opinion, I'm afraid, FrankGol. No statistics, just observation at the coalface.

Sorry, I had forgotten how you are such a stickler for facts.

Or at least, your version of them.

Gee, it must be tough having such high standards.

Pericles,

"Mere opinion, I'm afraid, FrankGol. No statistics, just observation at the coalface."

No only a statistical muffin, but environmentally unsound! Shouldn't your observation and tilting at the power of the unions have been done at the windmill?

Oh dear, you said that unions earn on average $118 a week more than non-union employees in similar jobs and you were wrong, and you didn’t even notice. Parody too subtle for you?

But the joke of the week has to be Frank panty-waistedly bleating, “It's very sad that Government propaganda is so readily swallowed by Australian voters.”

Ironic that the very same Australian voter who swallows erroneous trade union propaganda hook, line and sinker and regurgitates it without question for our intellectual consumption should criticise others for identical behaviour. Or perhaps it’s just extremely sad.

But Frank is sad.

In his Keatingesque way he continually over-estimates the intelligence levels of many OLO posters. Longsufferingly … practically surrounded by pigs and dogs … he self-righteously labours to show us the error of our ways (i.e. anything we disagree with). Just one more “dry as chips” sermon might convert us. Just one more patronising pastiche or scintillatingly subtle parody. If he could only preach a little longer – a little harder. (A little better! *tee hee*)

Frank, make some friends. Have fun. Be happy.

61

I've had a ball with this post. Though your parroty was a bit unsubtle.

My friends are tearing me away to celebrate with their $118 bonuses.

See you soon, maybe.

I'll work on it ...

; )