I am high maintenance, a term I am proud of.
It was used often in my days as Union Delegate and Union official.
See then and now I believed,in my heart,unions existed as they always have, for the members only.
And went that extra yard to serve, often insulting a boss, by just going that little too far, in pursuit of fairness.
Few unions will ever be in the position the HSU is in today.
Most are far better than that, some of our greatest present and future politicians are from unions.
Being fair dinkum, liking the job and the members, being trusted.
Is the reward I cherish, still.
But after trust comes truth, I invited it, and got it, my words before asking a question.
ALWAYS started with *tell me what you think*, not what you think I want to hear*
I have 20 shirts, only the ones I bought, union shirts, and I want to tell you what unionists think about the HSU.
And unfortunately many unions as this story WRONGLY infects them.
They have no faith are hurt deeply.
My many trips to hospital see every nurse and aid tell horrible story's about how they feel.
Today the ACTU must show that horrible word SOLIDARITY a cover for hiding truth,but today one meaning,with every unionist in Australia.
My mates, every unionist in this country is my mate, today must show no one dare ever do this again.
I am unable,for solidarity's sake,hide the fact one leftist union may well find its self in this hole too.
Unions There Is a Difference.
Solidarity if used to cover union crime is purely evil.

I can only hope this afternoon the ACTU takes on board the ideas of anti unionists.
Unionists mostly know not all unions are so badly managed.
But too, within EVERY union some will throw mud.
It is not time to say let the courts handle this.
And not the time to put our heads in the sand.
Good to very good,officers of every union have struggled to counter this type of view of unions.
I have no doubt, and much pride, in the fact unions are not like this.
Have traveled a long and hard road to build a structure after past days of compulsory unionism.
Much more has to be done.
I see another thread talks of sleaze factor.
We, workers/unionists/Labor supporters, know that is pure bias, but it is up to us to remember we must see it never takes place without action to fix it, not cover it up.

Belly,

From where I stand, the unions are dinosaurs that have little to no relevance in today's society.

Belly

From your post you would seem to be lamenting the very death of integrity and principles. My understanding is that such things are not a birth rite. Indeed, they have no master, nor do they embrace a slick sales pitch. They are things held by those who see the great value they embody, and lost by those who would use them only for advantage.

Sadly, my view is that Labor has foregone both for the sake of staying in power.

Dear Belly,

We all know where SM stands. No surprises there.
And there are quite a few of his political
persuasion who believe that neither government
nor associations of working people (unions)
should be able to restrict the proper application of
capital (money) in the economy. People, in their view,
either sink or swim. And if they sink, well that's
too bad. Because according to their beliefs, welfare
is not good for business.

I don't believe that business has the right to get
whatever it wants - if its to the detriment of the
working people of this country. Neither, thankfully,
does our current government.

Of course unions need to be more sensitive to the
realities of modern economic conditions. As I've
stated in the past, sectarian attitudes and greed
serve the cause of labour badly. And we are in
critical times and Australia requires a re-assessment
of the relationship between labour and capital,
a re-assessment which takes into account the politics
of industrial democracy, profit and job sharing, and
long term planning, which allows for the proper
protection and preservation of our environment.

I'm going to sound like a broken record but what we
don't need is the "kick-the-worker-today-and take-the-
money tomorrow" attitude that comes from the Cold War
warriors who are currently at work around the place.

The only way in which the country can work properly is
for management and labour to co-operate with one another,
not condemn one another.

The sad truth is that condemnation is the only language
that some employers appear to understand. That's why unions
are as relevant today as they every were - if not more so.

Lexi thanks, fester yes I lament, but have faith the end is not just around the corner.
I think no worse crime exists than betrayal like this.
However no matter what damage I do to my image with in UNION/LABOR circles, story exists there.
Truth has value.
I know without doubt my union never ever could fall to such as this.
And that the very best,come from the union movement, Bill Shorten,one day to rebuild my party, Paul Howe's who one day may take his turn as PM.
Combet is another.
We too sadly, infect the ALP with drones from the union movement.
Only the best should serve .
I refuse, forever, to sit back and say yesterdays ways are forever.
Youth and change are the new leaders, and without fear we should except the changes that grow unions.
I am humbled, every time by stupid idiots who try to keep class warfare alive.
Even members, more importantly those we must try to make members, are unimpressed with that.
ACTU acted, it should have months ago,ALP should have put much more thought in to selecting its candidates.
NEVER let solidarity cover for such as this, to do so tells members they are unimportant.
SM Abbott ranting and raving is looking more than silly.
You know my thoughts on Gillard, if we ever get more dysfunctional leaders I do not want to be here to see them.