It's Xmas i.e. strike time again. Listening to the postal workers' union this morning made me cringe as always when there's talk about a strike. Why is it that unions who, after all are supposed to be for the workers, always inconvenience workers ?
If the unions have issues with employers then why for crying out loud not inconvenience the employer not other workers ? If an airline doesn't want to come to the table then give free flights to passengers not deny them getting home for xmas. Same for Oz Post. If the employees have a gripe then hand out free stamps & envelopes etc. If you have a problem with your manager than get back at him not the rest of us. Show consideration not selfishness & you will have the support of the community. Keep doing it the traditional way & expect no sympathy.

Agreed Indi. Strikes at this time of the year stink!

Hey, why worry about Christmas at all?

Or put it off and celebrate the New Year instead. Do your shopping after the madness, when prices have dropped and have your big social gathering on 01/01/10!

And reduce the risk of getting highly inconvenienced by strike action!

Dear Individual,

I've always been a member of a union, but
I've never been put in a position where
I've had to go out on strike.
And, although I've been frustrated a few
times in the past when the union did its
job badly I totally support the right of
all working people to join together so as
to preserve and protect their jobs.

Of course, unions need to be more sensitive
to the realities of modern economic conidtions.
Sectarian attitudes and greed serve the cause
of labour badly. But the fact is Australia's
strike record has been improving in recent
years and has now fallen drastically.

I'm not sure what this latest batch of strikes
was all about - but it didn't last long - and
hopefully won't happen again before Christmas.

Individual,
I agree with Foxy and would add what they're doing is to 'maximize their opportunity'....have you noticed how grocery prices/petrol tend rise before Christmas and other major holidays? If it's good enough for capital to maximise the opportunity at these times, why not for Labour?
They're people too

In the final analysis it won't stop people from enjoying family time or the warm feeling of a loved ones wishes....does the meaning of the mail lose its meaning if it's a few days late? It doesn't to me. besides I have real issues to concern myself with.

And I too agree with foxy and examinator.
Just for second think in my way about this.
Last week an Australian.International firm asked my to the table.
To talk a wages deal, and informed me they had been talking to workers for three months, individually.
My late entry I was told was because they forgot to inform me!
The offer however was firmly fixed I could take it or leave it, but they would like me to take it, sign of on it, how about in 4 days?
Same firm recently payed forced redundancy's to a third of its workers, those Left full of fear took half the current inflation rate under threats of job loss, for the next three years without me..
Work has picked up, for contractors to this firm, more of them than the lost positions.
Current IR people, nation wide, often came into being under work choices have not yet grasped the idea workers again have rights.
In taking on your boss you can only strike under one condition, underline and remember that, during award/agreement talks.
Not for the length of this agreement, up to years, Can strike take place.
If your boss will not listen, will not negotiate in good faith, then and only then, having climbed under and over the fences in front of you strike can take place.
I has to, if it is to work, be at a time that puts maximum pressure on your boss.

Belly,
I wholeheartedly endorse to hit back at an unfair employer at a time when it hurts them most. I thought that's what I said in my post. That's why I said hit the employer in the pocket not other workers who can ill afford to lose holiday time because of an airline strike or miss having the family together with the kiddies presents or gear they ordered for the Xmas holidays. I just happen to think that although action against some employers are totally justified but striking is just as unjustified to other people as the employer is towards the striking workers. Surely you don't think that these employers aren't preparing for these times ? They calculate Xmas & Easter into their planning & actually expect strike action. I am waiting for a part which was poste a few days ago so that I could do things over the Xmas holidays. If there is a postal strike & my part doesn't arrive till after the holidays then I'm adversely affected not the management of Australia Post. However, if instead of striking postal workers didn't process management's mail etc. then that would make management think twice.