Hi Joe,

As far back as the 1970's when I was active in the union, the left wing AMWSU, operating on a large industrial site where a numbers of unions operated under the umbrella of the 'Works Committee' including the right wing ETU (electrical). The exception was the AWU which covered the production workers, who were the biggest group of employees. The AWU always operated independently and was very much seen as a 'bosses union' not getting involved in disputes, working through strikes and waiting until things were settled and signing lesser 'sellout' agreements covering their memberships. It was suspected AWU officials and delegates were in the pay of the employers. Many of their own members would feel disgusted with the industrial agreements signed off on. it was a fact the AWU could have obtained much better outcomes for their members many times but for some unexplained reasons never did.

Hi Foxy,

No, I'm certainly not anti-union in principle, it's just that I've rarely been in a decent one. I certainly support 100 % the right of workers to voluntarily and knowingly join a union which wholeheartedly pursues their interests, to the detriment of union-employer relations. Christ, such relations OUGHT to be strained at all times, and in favour of workers, especially the lowest-paid, for people on lousy hours, and doing lousy jobs.

Somebody's got to do those jobs, and they should be well-paid for it, with their pay and rights protected. And THAT's the role of a genuine union. Not that the Labor Party would know about that these days.

No, I'm not being patronising. It's just that I don't trust this need for 'reassessment' if it means favouring one company over all others, and doing the workers in as a consequence. Don't believe everything you read, Foxy. It sounds too much like '"kick-the-worker-today-and-take-the-money-tomorrow", i.e. on the part of some favoured employers and some unions, and I'm sure many workers would see that dirty deal for what it is. "Co-operation" - yeah, right. So who is "co-operating" with whom ? What a bunch of harlots.

Cold War warriors, etc. ? I'm sure that the Libs are praying that Shorten stays where he is, and sinks the Labour Party with him at the next election. And the Labor Party know it, and is just too gutless to do anything about it. Chickens come home to roost ......

Joe

"especially the lowest-paid, for people on lousy hours, and doing lousy jobs." In my experience Joe that applies to unskilled non-unionised workers, or workers covered by large right wing unions like the AWU and SDA (shops).

Hi Paul,

Thank you, and yes, why aren't unions trying to encourage those workers to join unions by doing something useful for them, like going into bat for them ? Too hard ? The unions and the ALP have got what they want out of the scam, and to hell with the workers ?

But aren't they the very people who need the protection of a good union ? Or they as scarce as Poirot's unicorns ?

Barry O'Farrell resigned when it became known that he had accepted a $ 7000 bottle of wine. Cleanevent, it seems, made four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) out of its deal with Shorten, to date. I wonder what the equivalent expiation could be for Shorten.

Cheers,

Joe

Foxy,

I agree, both Shorten/the union and the companies need to feel the force of the law.

Dear SM,

Let us wait and see what the Royal Commission finds
and recommends.