JBR
Some unions go to far in there demands. For instance post 9/11 some of the unions if i remember properly and im sure some one will put me right The pilots union in Delta were asking for a huge pay rise despite the airline being on its knees.
I remember working on a building site in London where the shop steward would call a strike if the tea tasted not to his liking and this was not a one off there was a shortage of certain skills and they knew they could get away with it.
We have seen unions make stupid demands where employers have just said forget it and closed down. It happened at Bae in Kingston in the early 90's. They worked a 37.5hr week but demanded a 35hr week but still get paid for a 37.5 and work the extra 2.5hrs at over time rates. Six months later the factory closed down so everybody lost.
Dont get me wrong i do agree that in certain circumstances unions are needed FR being a classic example but also look at Nissan sunderland where they have no union and yet it is one of the most efficient car factories in the world because the management have taken on a consultative approach with its workers and it works.
It doesnt matter which way you look at it the unions brought this country to its knees in the seventies as they wanted to rule. They brought down the publicy elected Heath government and they ried the same in the 80's with Thatcher but came a very poor second. Also when you see that lengths a union will go to stop someone who wants to work passing the picket line its quite shamefull and still happens today. Personal intimidation threats to their family and "being sent to coventry" and isolation when they go back to work it stinks and thats some of the reasons why i hate them.
I think that FR will work better with a union because the workers will feel a little safer and have a collective voice agianst a rich bully who lets face it has lost the plot and through his actions promotes unionism.
Ps being sent to coventry means no one talking to you and being ignored at work.
In the recent tube strike in London the RMT union had pickets at most stations and cuaght on TV was another union driver trying to go to work and the striking union taking him to one side and a "having word" before he thought the better of it and went home.