"""
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.
"""

I wonder Lexi. When you do your shopping at Coles or Woolies, do you go through an actual cash register or do you use the new self pay sections?

Dear RM,

I don't shop at either Coles or Woolies.

I am very much aware some will never under stand the trade union movement.
And RM I never go via the self serve, no one should.
To some extent the reason some,dislike the trade union movement,and do not understand it,is the movement its self,or parts of it.
To defend the movement let me start with cold war warriors I prefer class warfare.
Yes some,within the heart of some unions,think and act in those terms.
One union selects very big men,who charge at every chance.
They seem unaware, most members are less than pleased with this.
Fact is unionism is not every day battles with unwilling bosses.
It is taking the hat around for a workers child with cancer.
Or running that raffle,using a jumper the local football team has signed.
Sending the sick visitor to hospitals, funerals.
Talking to local members about trees blinding motorists.
Midnight visits to roadworks to say Gday to traffic controllers.
Or talking to police or ministers about their safety.
It should not ever be about defending every thing said about unions with the thought what would they know?
Once the movement was an educator,we told our children about the reasons we exist.
We are changing,just like the ALP must, but we should remind people just what we do, even our enemy's.
Continued.

Lexi,

It's sad that your labor party is so bad and corrupt that you have to invent a boogie man in the coalition to validate your support.

And you say you base your opinions on facts?

At this point I always end up in trouble, from my side of the fence.
These remarks cover my view of both the Union movement and the ALP.
Progress, I demand it, because voters/members demand it.
If we take it for granted we are right, and no need to defend our selves exists, then we die, from self inflicted wounds.
HSU, we waited long enough,but do we understand SOME OF OUR VERY BEST want to know why?
Have we acted because it was the right thing to do.
Or because this issue was blowing up in our faces.
The Woman leader, the one from this union, I know nothing about her.
But while threats and such have been made to her,is she the workers hero for highlighting the grubby actions?
YES.
Remember our members, both groups, think for them selves.
And MOST importantly, those we need to keep us in power or afloat, are the ones we need to convince we act for justice.
HSU presents the union movement with an opportunity to remove the rust.
To highlight youth and those who would hold the job if the salary was halved.
The current feelings in this country about both party and unions will only be changed when we take head on the views we know are untrue.
To hold on to thoughts and ideas that our opponents feed on, that we are right always, is defeatism.
HSU is was and will be remembered as a betrayal of every thing we got from those who formed unions.
Those seats I once sat in,the ones my former workmates still do are to be left better than we found them, for tomorrows union members.

Belly, not sure why the ACTU should have acted now. My impression is that the report from Fair Work Australia has not yet been made public so unless I've misunderstood that they dont know the detail of what's in it.

It does seem from media reports as though the wrong doing extends to more than just Craig Thomson but again I've not worked out how much the media actually know.

I'm reminded of the mention a few months ago of one well known QLD union official using union funds to cover legal costs not related to the union on the reported basis that an attact on him was an attack on the union.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/union-paid-legal-bills-of-senior-labor-mp-bill-ludwig/story-e6freuy9-1226130957539

Might be a bit more process in that instance than hiring a hooker but the mentality is not all that different.

Its never a good thing when private stuff gets mixed in with a public role.
http://www.integrity.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/189753/Case_Study-inappropriate_reimbursement_claims.pdf

R0bert