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.

Only opportunity to use this power, the last resort surely?
Is at maximum pain time for boss.
Yes it looks bad, is bad kids toys are in that mail.
Boss also wants to put pressure on the workers.
And has done it, very well, your thoughts are those of MOST people.
Few care about mail workers wages, work conditions, job security, wants and wishes.
Most pillory them for this strike, this is the tool the boss used too, to pressure workers into a loss.
As a punter I can tell you it is not clear who will bend first, go the workers you good thing!

Not so long ago other workers would have supported the postal workers in their fight for better conditions and security. They may even have gone out on strike themselves in sympathy. Its called solidarity and it is the only thing that has ever given workers any leverage over their bosses. The right to withdraw ones labour is fundamental to the dignity and self respect of a worker. To be unable to withdraw ones labour is to usurp workers right to autonomy (a subject so dear to the right wings heart....when it suits them) and reduces one to little more than a slave.

Now some workers are forbidden to strike while it has been made increasingly difficult for everyone else. Now people care only about themselves and what minor inconvenience they may feel. Now shock jocks and powerful politicians demonise workers and paint them as greedy. As if all postal workers live in Double Bay mansions and get around in chauffeur driven limos.

Stuff you Jack, I wanna be alright is right but not in respect to the postal workers. It is far more appropriate for the OP and his dismissal of the rights of workers and his selfish fear he might get his mail a bit late.

Refusing to join a Union is a workers right.
It is also excepting a benefit others paid for.
Wages health and safety every gain from 40 hour week to todays 36 hour.
As many know, foolishly think, I am biased.
You can not believe anything I say, see I am an ALP activist and trade unionist.
Clearly under control of both?
Well no, KEVIN RUDD Mr love love me do!
Currently by far the best, only, man to lead us.
Today Sir, in your rush to be loved you slandered the people who put you in office.
So easy, jump on the kick a unionist wagon.
Mate before you came to your job, entered Parliament, got born, Unionist in good times and bad, pushed the ALP wagon in deep mud sometimes.
Yes know the story, your bitter battle as a fatherless son, who went to university.
Mate I worked from before I became a teenager, to feed my siblings, my unionist dad worked himself to early death to feed us.
No share portfolio for these workers, just a plan, to make permanent jobs casual.
I ask for no workers heaven, but you never bloke, I will bet on it, went without food for three days so your kids could eat.
My unionist, ALP mum and dad did.
Sorry but in time you will be remembered as a great leader I also will remember you for todays popularity preening for the camera, failure to understand a workers efforts, time, are his/her only salable thing, the bread and butter for a family no less important than yours.
Hope Santa brings you a photo opportunity bloke.
PS do not go away Bill please Mr Shorten stay on track.

Yes the timing of this strike is inconvenient. No, we don't need to blame the unions. There are two groups that can end this strike, Australia Post is one, the union is the other. Austraia post should accept just as much blame as the postal workers and their union.

For those who do not know it I am a union official.
After years of being a delegate I got the honor of getting a job I never asked or looked for.
While older than most here I think my greatest joy is my union is in the hands of young progressive people, and some truly wise older men.
I often sail close to the wind, often get burned, happily not by my members.
See I think in modern terms, proud of the past, but fighting for the future, a different future.
I no longer use the term comrade, I have brothers and sisters but feel more comfortable with mate.
I oppose communism till death, think socialism was in part a good idea that communism killed and tainted.
Know mainstream middle of the road is my members path, call that road fair go mate.
Union numbers are growing, true watch this space, but we need every member to think not in union or party ways.
Be active within your union see these strikers are not fighting for Moscow, not for feather beds, but to stop full time jobs becoming casual ones.
That is stopping and asking is it ok for more workers each year to Be forced to become casuals is not UN Australian.
Modern unions are trying to defend jobs and rights not over turn governments, while Rudd is todays leader, the right one, he has NEVER been hungry never saw his kids eat hot stew on Christmas day because that was all he had.
Workers rights are not UN Australian fair go mate is not either.
Merry Christmas EVERY body Kev bloke, spare sausage sanga here if you want it, have to salute the southern cross or you are not getting it!

Well it will not be sausages Kev, had them yesterday in truth would be more than happy but as the eldest tradition has me under lock and key.
It will be yet another year of hot kitchens hot chook ham, and pork.
Not served however by a butler or maids.
Cooked by me, also a tradition, my dad came home from ww11 an army cook, he never let mum work this day, My brothers kept it up.
I am proud that we can afford to eat the good stuff, but would take every bit and give it away with great happiness, IF I could find a family like mine in my childhood on that hot summer day stew for Christmas.
What a truly great Christmas that would be.
Kevin, Mate, tradition, big word, means a lot to some.
While I worked to feed my siblings you went to college.
While I put my dreams into my ALP you too dreamed about them.
Our dreams, truly, did not differ much, you wanted to govern, I wanted you to.
You wanted change I did too.
I never forgot the birth of our party, maybe you never knew.
Unions? still, every day I think some need to change, but understand bosses ,some do too do you know that Kev?
See the missus, great lady, made a quid out of temps and casuals, many only want those jobs so good on her.
But do you understand that posty? its his family's bread and butter, he/she may have been in that job for 20 years, now a boss says we need to make it a casual position?
Has you loverly lady ever thought about branching out.
I reckon a quid can be made in government or seem government jobs, contract out the problems!
ALL management positions.
It would work they will not, nore do they have to, chief executives get massive wages to cut jobs, fools get promoted.
And workers get pilloried by others who have never even thought about them.