General Chat

Ive been watching some of the trade Union Congress On the television and I cant help thinking that 90% of what the talk about is rubbish!! Ive never heard so much tosh in my life!

I think the trade Union was good at one time and they did a good job for working conditions and so on but I cant help but think that they have out grown there use and are now just making Jobs for the boys:-))

Sadly, protection for workers will never outgrow it's use Rox.

Fiona there are laws in place for workers.

Those laws are not comprehensive enough, nor are they always adhered to.

I'm quickly losing faith in trade unions since this recession began. Here we have train drivers who caused massive disruption because they called one-day strikes. Why? Because at £35k a year, a 5% pay rise over ONE YEAR wasn't good enough.

They should be thankful they have a job, let alone the pay they are on. Train me up, I'll do it for £20k a year, and let them spend time on the dole.

It was ill-thought-out and badly timed, and did not win the support of the public...hence an agreement has been reached before a week-long strike next week. Funny that.

It's a sad day when people have to be thankful to have a job.

I agree with You 100% Teresa.

Fiona, we should always be thankful for whatever we have. I've spent a lot of time being thankful to have a job, thanks to the recession of the early 80s, when we suffered the worst of high unemployment with two young children, in an area where there just wasn't the work available.

With rising unemployment, these train drivers are not indispensible, and plenty would love the opportunity to take their place.

Nobody is indispensible; but, if companies give employment specifically to people who ask, or are happy to take, the lowest wages, then we send ourselves back to the days before trades unions started.

There is such a thing as Minimum Wage laws now, so that would never happen Fiona.
I find the whole trade Union thing has lost what they were started for,and there really does not seem to be any common sense among them.

my point as a Union Rep I spent a lot of my time helping the most vunerable people at work that do not know there rights & managers who do not have a clue they were doing anything wrong I went on Health & Safety courses Disability Discrimination quite a mixture I was on Regional & National commitees to try & improve working conditions
I had an accident 2 years ago went on long term sick had operation that went wrong work tried to finish me on incapability only because I knew what the Law was they are now awiting results on next op however I knew who would employ me wiyh 2 years on sick nobody had they been sucessful but I do understand what you see on TV believe you me is not a true picture of the work & dedication of a lot of people who do not get paid but who love helping & have to fight for the rights of not being bullied or discriminated against in any way

Hi Mabel,
I understand what your saying,and Im sure your right, its people like yourself who are the 10% in my opinion.

Hi Rox
this is why I love these boards we see everybodies opions
I have enjoyed reading this thread
my only concern when people see T U C confrence on TV if we lose faith in the Unions it is the vunerable who suffer the most

I don't think the trade unions are a bad thing and I think they are needed to support those who find themselves discriminated against. It's more that some of the people in them need to remember what they are there for.

Let me phrase this differently Rox. If certain companies choose to give preference to people who will work for £5.80 per hour (also known as the lowest (legal) wages. Then we send ourselves back to the days etc. etc.

Hi Mabel,Me too! I love to see others opinions ,.
I understand exactly what you mean, I would hate the vulnerable to suffer but I do think that trade unions have to go back to there purpose, which is just what you have stated.
Hi Fiona,I understand what you saying but if that's the case then its happening now isn't it? aren't there Immigrants that are doing just that,I don't condone it but if its already happening then .......

As far as I am concerned there will always be a need for the unions.

Rox...there may be laws to protect the workers but believe me management can twist and turn the legalities to gain their aim.

A few years ago I suffered a nervous breakdown due to work related stress and bullying by the management (County Council) without the backing and hard work of my union rep I don't what I would have done.

Now the same is happening to 3 friends of mine and again the union is involved.

It is in such circumstances the unions are invaluable....who else is there to turn to....nobody!!

I agree with you Mabel the media does not give a true picture of the dedication of unions and their reps helping the small vunerable people....which is a down right shame.

Linda

my frustration as a Union Rep is the example of Linda B the same problem of bulling & harrasement 3 years later what did managers learn nothing they have by law duty of care to all employers
I to work for a Council my opion is to train managers better to understand the LAW they take advice from human resourses but there get out clause is I am only an adviser Lind B as given a personal brilliant example of when Unions are needed the most I love being a Union Rep yes it is hard work & no I do not get paid but the satisfaction when people do not lose there jobs or are moved to more suitable employment because of how they have been treated I always try to do my best for the person who pays the union to get representation

Hi Linda B,

I understand what you mean and yes I do agree that some management can be just that,Im not against Trade unions In that form what so ever, what I object to is the little growing army of people who seem to think that to strike is always the answer.
We are going through bad times at the moment I just think the Unions should understand that,people going on strike isnt going to solve anything only make things worse..