TWU

[Don Diego]

For those who missed it and are interested here is the link

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-au&brand=ninemsn&tab=s29&mediaid=122457&from=39&vid=45259553-5867-4894-B2D1-253EDF661A1D&playlist=videoByTag:mk:en-AU:vs:0:tag:aunews_ausunday:ns:MSNVideo_Top_Cat:ps:10:sd:-1:ind:1:ff:8A

[Torres]

What did you expect? That the union's principal function was to benefit it's Member workers?

:confused:

[HotDog]

Well the chickens are coming home to roost. All the ardent, happy Labor supporters are slowly finding out what they have voted for.:yuk:

[Lefthanded_Rock_Thrower]

I am a TWU member, I personally do not care where they spent their party money.

The only question for me is: did they sell their members down the river for these " donations to training "? , I doubt it very much.

In the past this sort of back handing might have happened, but with the evolution of law, no one in their right mind would take a back hander in a way that would/could see them in prison.

If they back mailed ( dirty word isn't it ) Linfox and others into paying additional donations to the greater good, well done to that man/woman, as long as the TWU members were not disadvantaged.

Whilst there may infact be some wrong doing in this case, unfortunately this occurs in every organisation.

Incidently I have been very impressed to date with my relationship with the TWU.

[Torres]

LRT.

"Incidently I have been very impressed to date with my relationship with the TWU."

Then you have not yet worked for a "protected" employer! The union movement protects those that pay - in your case perhaps, the members - but in most cases, the major companies whose payments exceed that of their Member employees.

Industrial problems have started, the Kevin 07 debt is being called in.

[Jabawocky]

Torres.....only a matter of time.

The unions and the left side of polotics an aviation have a few nasty legacies.........that number ...the one after 88 rings a bell but i would not dare bring that one up.

Funny thing LRT, had the boot been on the right foot not the left, there would have been folk squeeling like stuck pigs! Hypocracy is a word that springs to mind. Yes...its true there have been dubious dealings on the other side in the past......but those who stood on holier than thou grounds are now found with thier feet in their mouths.

When will all the BS end? Probably never. Bit like global warming, oil crisis of the 70's the coming ice age.........etc etc etc etc

J:ok:

[Lefthanded_Rock_Thrower]

I am not ignorant enough to think that either/both sides has any more or less skeletons in the closet, they are still men ( and the minxy Julia, GGrrrrrrr....:O ).

If it wasn't the Kevin07 debt being called in, it could have been the Howard/Costello07 debt, either way, same same. Someone with and agenda wanting favours returned.

Whilst i am in complete agreeance that at times the Union Movement has been its worst enemy, this is most often due to individuals.

The ethos of the oganisation is what interests me intently, jump on Wikipedia and do a search, look for the positve the Union Movements ( and non extreme leftists ) have achieved, but people often like to focus on the negatives.

Read the story of the Eureka Stockage, that changed the political environment in Australia quite considerably.

Taking Children out of the mines and into Schools, pensions and benefits, free health care, the list is long and distinguished.

I believe many criticise the concept of socialism without truely understanding the concept.

For interest, all communists are socialists, not all socialists are communists, I am not a communist.

[Torres]

LRT.

No one disputes the part the Union movement played in improvement of worker conditions and social justice in Australia.

However, the Eureka Stockade rebellion occurred in 1854. The Labour Party was formed in 1891. At least unions had no political connections for almost forty years during which very significant improvements to worker conditions occurred.

The politicising and corruption of the Union movement was completed during the Whitlam, Hawke and Keating years.

In general, the Union movement is no longer an autonomous association of workers, dedicated to the benefit of it's members, but a tool for it's executive's quest for political power and personal gain - go read up on the Fabian Society (http://www.fabian.org.au/1.asp).

As a result, union membership is at an all time low in Australia as Member's rights are sold down the creek in exchange for political donations and financial reward and benefits for the union executives.

I may be right thinking, but I would have no problems joining a politically independent association of workers, dedicated to the common betterment of it's members.

I would never join a labour organisation which has, in many cases, become nothing more than the thugs of the political left.

The pilot unions are generally "middle of the road" or even conservative. Read these forums to understand their inability to achieve any real change for their members. Indeed, one of the causes for "that year" was that the pilot's association was not affiliated with the main stream union movement, thus became fair game for both the politicians and big business.

Whilst I respect your right to membership of the TWU, that organisation may benefit you but I suspect will benefit the Labour Party even more! And it you think the Labour Party's sole motivation is to benefit Australian workers, you're dreaming.

[flyitboy]

I wouldn't trust the TWU as far as I could thro them! I used to be a member for 13 yrs reluctantly (was a condition of my employment way back then that I was a member). Like the BLF & water side workers back in the 80's, we all know how much thuggery was going on there, thieves in disguise!
Like a lot of big busineses & politicians they need to be corrupt in order to survive in their dirty world:bored:

The principal behind a union is paramonut to the Aussie way of survival all hard working honest employees know this but if their honest these days (which I doubt they are) then they won't last!
Labor is back in power, watch how this country will go backwards all over again!
That's my opinion no more no less.


F

[Torres]

Sadly, I think you are correct. Historically the period of greatest labour unrest in Australia has been during periods of Labour government, whilst the union executive profits at the expense of the workers.

It will be interesting to see just how beholden the present Government is to the labour movement and whether Kevin07 and his team can introduce real improvement in the terms and conditions of Australian workers.

In an ideal world, real change for the betterment of Australia's workers can only occur when business and workers cooperate to increase Australia's productivity. Increases in worker wages without a corresponding improvement in productivity can only be inflationary.

The Kevin07 team also needs to address executive accountability, productivity and remuneration, starting with Government authorities and corporations! :mad:

[Capt Wally]

Yes sadly 'torres' I too agree with you & mostly what 'flyitboy' has written. His words are strong but to the point. Yr statement In an ideal world, real change for the betterment of Australia's workers can only occur when business and workers cooperate to increase Australia's productivity. Sadly this will never happen here in Oz. 'Shop floor' management never works in a free democratic society. There has to be 'them & us' for our current way of working structure to work.

Although I'm not a Labor voter (never have been) I can understand that Labor got in because of a lot their followers are young & have little in the way of experience as far as unions & their somewhat questionable ways behave. I hope & that's about all of us old timers can do is hope that Kevin & his mostly union mates continue to make this country prosper.




CW

[sprocket check]

Whilst i am in complete agreeance that at times the Union Movement has been its worst enemy, this is most often due to individuals.

It is just unfortunate that those individuals happen to be at the very top, the top, the lower top, dispersed right through the middle and with a very strong representation in the ignorant lower sections of the organisation.

First hand experience in that year.

History DOES repeat itself.

sc

[Pinky the pilot]

My Brother-in-law is a Truckie driving B Doubles and is a member of the TWU. He had no choice in the matter at the time.

I recently told him that some Pilots had joined the TWU and his reaction was..

''WTF did they do that for?? The TWU won't do anything for them!!''

The remainder of his comments are unprintable.

[Capt Wally]

'pinky' I like that post, simple, honest & a real working mans answer.Tell yr Bro in-law I take my hat off to him for being honest.

I have a heavy truck license (from days when I wanted to make money unlike flying) & had a couple of great money making opertunities presented to me in the trucking world but it was compulsory to join the TWU back then, Pass!


CW