Police horses under attack, screams and the chant *workers united will never be defeated*
No doubt many will pin their views, some informed, some not on this story.
So why not me?, an ex combatant in the some times heat of Construction workplaces.
In truth I understand, know only too well, I am treading on the feet of my life time union mates.
But it has always been so, even as a member hidden in the crowd listening to my official talking on the stump.
My heart is linked to my brain, this issue does more harm to my movement thang ood.
To hell with solidarity, how can any thing eating away at my union movement deserve my protection?
I have fought radical unionism all my life, I was on leaving my job earlier than I had planned offered a job with this union, the Melbourne one.
More money, revenge on a bad boss, instant successes as membership came with me, all true.
But no way! after a lifeof standing in front of them? never.
I think, behind this issue is a demand straight out of the 1960s or 70s is that workers picked by the union, get jobs,then become site delegates.
If we get a run? much more to say, in defence of future much more moderate unionism.

My contribution comes in defense of the grate trade union movement ,of those that came before and those yet to come.
This union is the one that broke all the glass in a planned march to Parliament in the 1990,s.
Other unionists, who came to protest not riot left in orderly fashion at that point.
The NSW Builders Laborers Federation, so much for solidarity, was dereregistered and then swallowed up by this union.
Employing big men, not always brave, they started using strikes/riots/protests/ as recruitment tools.
And we started to see street marches flags flying, Brave Heart? no not at all.
Every one 0f us should note the fact is they distance workers from unions and bosses too.
I have sat in the room looking after my members interests in Civil construct and saw them, not unusual but the average for them, swear in the most awful way at female IR folk.
Seen them enter an office and kick every thing all over the floor.
I have shared consultations with site boss, returned to a mass meeting with them, and watched them report events that never took place
Civil construction saw their own members purge them, sick of needless hostility and lies they fled.
Now work choices forbade Union stickers on helmets, or shed walls.
Some firms reacting to militancy, some just because they can,still bar them.
Yet helmets are covered, indeed you can not walk on site without them, with stickers including the firms name site inductions first aid, a host more.
When challenged the boss says sticker effect the helmets work under impact, it is a safety issue.
No boss I ever knew tried to tell a union who could be the delegate.
Some do pick health and safety reps, maybe as insurance , health and safety for one union is a battering ram.
Average Australian worker wants to work, a few do not, a strike is the last spanner in the bag.
Unless your union is using you as its recruiter and advertising machine, this one does.

The firm involved had to close its Sydney site today.
And send the workers home on full pay, seems the sites locks, all of them, had super glue in them.
Gates could not be opened.
Pieces of ply have been falling from the site? so danger involved too.
The folk throwing them, it happens, may not be looking below first.
A good and honest union first action should be calm down the workers.
Take ten of them, not hand picked, to talk the issues out with the boss.

Dear Belly,

I'm not sure that I understand what's
going on with these guys and why such anger.

I am a member of a union, but
I've never been put in a position where I've
had to go on strike, and although I'm
sometimes frustrated when a union does its
job badly I support without reservation the right
of all working people to join together so as to
preserve and protect their livelihoods.

Of course unions need to be more snesitive to the
realities of modern economic conditions. Sectarian
attitudes and greed serve the cause of labour badly.
But the fact is, or so I thought, that Australia's
strike record has been improving in recent years.
So I don't know what the problem here is.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/unions-bestlaid-plans-may-come-back-to-bite-it--and-pm-20120829-250rm.html
Lexi behind the scenes, right out in front for those who understand, unions ALL SUFFER in matters like this.
My often quoted Unions there is a difference, is true.
But very few know it.
I have been on strike, after every action failed, and proudly.
I worked under the work choices law, the one this strike is said to be, but unlikely in reality, to be about.
I wanted it gone, but not without a watch dog.
The trade union needs to survive, it already has far more good unions than bad, but very few know that.
First thought for some is ALL Unions are involved.
I demand an end to ALL miss use of Unionists by Unions,funds, needless strikes, and the thought this warfare is productive.
The filth used in this link, is the way, but its worse these grubs speak to every boss, criminal!
I will name a grub as so, to his face, but only after plea for a hearing is ignored.
I am not concerned at the failure of the thread to be used, just happy to go on record demanding Australia find Australians to run Unions, and find them from the Rank and file.
Not The Rank and Vile.

Dear Belly,

Beautifully put and I fully agree.