Crimson hell BD! BEATING EMPLOYERS TO DEATH? I truly think you are a good bloke but do you think unions do that?
Even the worst actions of the worst unions surely do not include that?
Let me tell you what drives this trade unionist.
I am a product of a very large family bought up on spuds and pumpkin.
Living in far different times workers nearly had to hold their hat over their hearts to talk to the boss.
From my first day at full time work before I turned 13 I have bought the insurance of a fair go at work ,a union ticket with pride.
And given an honest days work for an honest days pay.
Your words in this thread prove to me you understand nothing of unions, nothing of workchoices, nothing of reality.
NOT ALL UNIONS ARE THE SAME yesterday I again did what I said found just a few who will never pay those who work for them fairly.
Today I meet a boss who is intent on getting a fair agreement in place with my union, a fair boss.
Do not look for evil in those who work, you as a Christian should know if money is needed for a good charity it is far more likely to come from them than the rich.
Unionists are just like you and me not as even you paint them.
Your God is your right I reserve the right to be a unionist while searching for constant improvement from the movement I stand by its right to fight for a fair go for workers.
BD how can we debate unions and not except the boss has so many unions of his own? and that they remain unchallenged?

Belly mate :) I said "verbally" not literally.. sorry, I'll avoid such blatant terms in future :)

I totally respect your line of work mate.. clearly your heart is in the right place regarding industrial outcomes.
What you mentioned about being brought up with spuds and pumpkin... I had vegemite sandwiches. But I don't think about much of the material lack of the past, what I think about is that I had a family which loved me. Family Love is the best thing.

If you can maintain the objective of 'fairness' which is fair on the employer as well as employees, then all power to you mate.

Right now, I'm at the cross roads of needing to employ someone, I have work running out my ears.. toooo much, and its sending me into a spin.. not knowing which way to turn to get it all done. But I'll avoid employing someone at all costs. I'll rope family in, friends.. I'll work around 'employing' someone as much as humanly possible. Why ? because as soon as I do employ someone, my costs go up ASTRONOMICALLY. Which results in me being less competitive, less work, and likely to go broke.

It's not just the employment costs, but if the work runs out because I've had to increase my prices, what happens to the bloke or girl working for me ? out the door..no choice.

But I digress. The thing is, you have to have LOTS of work to keep just one person employed, probably much more than is needed for one person, so that when you lose a customer, you can still keep your bloke employed. So the stress of always needing more work than you can cope with is a struggle.
This is why casualization is so important. You need flexibility to get help to cope with short term overload.

One bloke who works at my customers place says "Its great. come here each day and hold my hand out at the end of the week".. hah.. his company don't pay me for 60days if I'm lucky.

cheers mate