Dear Aidan,

It's quite obvious to me - but then I
prefer to use more than the sources
of News Corp - where the news is limited.

Cheers.

So do I, Foxy, but I haven't heard anything contradictory from other sources. And Victoria's unions do have a reputation for unreasonable responses (by Australian standards — I'm not suggesting they're anywhere near as bad as their British counterparts).

Dear Aidan,

That's what the Liberals would like you to believe.
Which they hope will influence the swinging voters,
especially in the marginal seats. That's the whole
point. However, where would workers in this country
be without unions. Professionals in the building-industry
who work with unions every day, have learned that by
treating unions respectfully and negotiating details of
concern - projects run very smoothly. My husband, who's
an architect has worked with unions on contruction
projects many times both in this country and overseas
and has found minimal problems that negotiations resolved
within a day or two. Only sheer stubborn resistance to
negotiate and discuss, results in problems.

In any case - I've got nothing further to add to this
discussion.
I'll see you on the next one.

Foxy I'm surprised at your loose use of language. You say, "Professionals in the building-industry who work with unions every day, have learned that by treating unions respectfully and negotiating details of concern - projects run very smoothly."

I would have expected you to be more precise, with something like, Professionals in the building-industry who work with unions every day, have learned that by treating unions respectfully and doing lots of under the table back handers to the union bosses - projects run very smoothly.

This would have been a much more precise use of words. After all we have none other than the dreadful read head's activities to prove this is fact, where Victorian unions are concerned.

Dear Hassie,

I was speaking on behalf of my husband's personal
experiences as an architect. He's never had to resort
to the tactics you mention - which I suspect may be
practised by a few but on the whole again tend to
form part of the rampant political mythology against
unions in this country.

Aidan, "That the factions have so much power that they will control the premier is mere conjecture"

You need to understand how Labor works. The Premier is subject to the decisions of Caucus, and Caucus is governed by factions. That is why Rudd and others oppose the factions, saying they are a cancer affecting democracy. The power of the factions is evident from the inability of leaders like Rudd to do anything about them.