1. We need the Union movement even if its officers was not doing anything. When employers know that the Union exist, then they know that we are there and any time we could use our power to defend or claim our rights.
2. The Union movement must show its high interests, priorities for women rights, because the new members mainly will come from women. Really I can not understand why the Union movement did not put as its top priority the paid maternity leave when there are so strong evidents, reasons, acceptance and benefits. As a) Fundamental right in Europe (for conservatives and socialists) According to Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 2000, Article 33, Family and professional life
1. The family shall enjoy legal, economic and social protection.
2. To reconcile family and professional life, everyone shall have the right to protection from dismissal for a reason connected with maternity and the right to paid maternity leave and to parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child.
b)Only USA and Australia do not pay maternity leave
c)Women and young labors will support it and it it will open a wide way for new members from these two strong categories.
3. The Union must follow its own way, not to follow always and blindly the ALP. Both sides must understand that they have different roles and goals.
4. Union movement must find ways( there are many ways) to create channels, to be in contact with its members and its wider base.
5. Union movement must promote open discussions on major issues and find ways for better relations with mass media, internet etc.
There are two special subjects migrants, multinational companies and sooner or later the Union must work on them but it will need open mind and some time.
Personally I believe the paid maternity leave MUST BE THE TOP PRIORITY AND TOP CAMPAIGN for the Union movement. It will be very useful for the ALP too.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

As usual Foxy you are a breath of fresh air, understanding the issue and I am impressed.
19%or 22% unions are no small minority minority however we indeed are.
What if the ACTU with union funds never fought for minimum wages increases?
Most who got that benefit are not unionists but the social justice of such minimums is relevant to the union movement.
No one fails to understand it was in far different times the union movement formed the ALP.
And wise men must know the ALP must govern in the interests of all not just unions.
Few realistic workers ask for anything else.
But in this wealth creation world[how did we let our selves think like that?] we are sometimes far apart.
ALP plans on the table are to yet again modify the party, good to see the party of change in this country try to stop donations even union ones, NSW shamed us all.
Is that a call to silence the union movement within the party?
My week has been full on from conference to interstate then back to construction sites.
Meeting bosses and workers all with smiles on their faces small issues fixed without bitterness , yet the public view of unionism, even from some in my party is far different than truth.
We however will fight for fairness long after I am dust and the question is will the ALP discard us?

Well what next? I have no doubts something new must come but what?
Increasingly unions throw themselves at the feet of the ALP and think in doing so they act in the best interests of workers is that true?
So very many including current federal ministers are on record saying the ALP must distance its self from unions.
I also have no doubt some unions must understand times have changed brains not brawn are todays tools best used.
A growing trail of evidence that unions loyalty to the ALP is not being returned must be balanced with the governments need to govern.
Long term the relation ship will be tested may not exist in 20 years but unions will, the need for them will, and an understanding of the relation ship is taking place right now.
The drafting of our national IR system will say much about a relationship.
Unions exist for reasons other than a party that is questioning its ties with us just maybe we should observe some of us who are in the greens camp now.
If not now it surely will be of interest as unionists are shown the door by such actions as those in NSW last weekend.

Well lets see what is next

As the federal scabs keep saying it will be change.

The unions spend too much time on labor. They should be looking out for those who pay their wages, the workers.

There are ways to halt this sell off but the union big boys are not listening as dont wont to hurt the ALP.

Labor gave us deregulation and the sale of the commonwealth back, which gave power to the banks to drain every last cent.

Now the power sell.

Here in charlton we have combet who is silent and not standing up for the people even though he is federal.

We have greg piper an independent for lake maquarie for state and he has been fighting and has made it known we are not happy.

This government with the unions backing got into power for what , their incompetence not to ensure facilities are kept up to date and fuctionable.

Where have they spent all this money.

What we need is a full accountability of funds and spending of this government.

When the unions decide its time to fight they should contact me, but i wont hold my breath as they are trying to keep the peace with labor and not the worker.

This is why they will end up losing and when they decide to cut the crap and stop shining labors knob things may change for the better and we will have people in government who will stand up no matter what and fight for their communities.

If these pollies had to pay for their election bid none off them would be their.

That is why i will carry on my fight at the next federal election.

I put my money even though very small where my mouth is.

Stuart Ulrich
Independent
swulrich@bigpond.net.au

The most important need for the people of Australia,when the ALP took control of every government in Australia, is a strong Union movement.
The total lack of regard for the hopes and aspirations of ordinary Australians has been demonstrated by the NSW Cabinets desire to flog of the Power industry to their personal friends.
The Rudd Government have gone overboard with the Big banks and embraced the Big banks bashing of "delinquent clients "who cannot repay the whole of their mortagage "overnight,"
The fact that most of the Big banks use the South Australian legal system to wrap up their mortgagors.
Labor Legal Eagles, members of the toughest union in Australia,the Bar Council or the State's Law Society,(Union.)have the upper hand in tying -up the poor suffering workers, both white and blue collars.
How can any government justify no pay increase for fifteen years in the pay rates of skilled tradesmen.
The basic pay rates have increased, but 15 to 20 years ago no skilled tradesman would accept the basic wage,but today without Union power workers have to take what the employers want to pay.
The price of a home was $40,000 two decades ago. Today at $200,000 for a workers home.A car cost $4,000 two decades ago today $30,000.
Nedd I go on.
OH, the skills shortage,import cheaper labour, so we can sack those Aussies who ask for wage justice.
Welcome to the New Labor Party.

"most of the Big banks use the South Australian legal system to wrap up their mortgagors"
BROCK, this is not fact its fiction, the only mortgagors they wrap up in SA is in relation to land located in SA.

The fact is that they do this not only SA but in every State of the quasi Republic but the problem is the way its being done in the forum being provided and who has control over the procedures used to enforce it.

The fact is that Labor, National and Liberal Legal Eagles, members of the toughest and the most corrupt and dishonest union in Australia,the Bar Council or the State's Law Society,(Union.)have the upper hand in tying-up the poor suffering workers, both white and blue collars, and SLAVES. The same Legal Eagles, not the Parliament, provides the forum to asset strip all of us.

"The basic pay rates have increased, but 15 to 20 years ago no skilled tradesman would accept the basic wage, but today without Union power workers have to take what the employers want to pay."

If they freely choose to work for less than the costs required to survive, that is their election, but today the boot is on the other foot is it not ?