Forums Forums Local News New Birkenhead union launched for jobless people

I would hope i have got a sense of humour and i also have had to fight at times from within and i also believe that trade unions have lost there way some what. However i firmly believe that the working people of this country would be a lot worse off if unions never existed or were never formed in the first place. I don't have to remind you of the working conditions and practices people of this country found themselves in prior to unions being formed and they never changed because of the goodness of bosses and governments hearts. The only way it was changed is by working people sticking together and fighting for that change.

I am glad to pay my £6 odd each month because UNISON have been very helpful. They showed my managers that they couldn't just walkk all over me and try to fob me off with false information. I had to go to them again yesterday because of the stuff work are trying to bring in. They could be seeing themselves accused of bullying if they are not careful.

That's a great idea, then we could return to the 100 hour week with little pay, no sick leave, no paid holidays, no health care, no health and safety, no protection from capitalist bosses and regimes who treated people no better than dog crap, yes lets return to that. [/quote]

bert1 We are of the same school.I agree with you.This could be a great country, if we pull together for the good of all.Snooze I used to take my minutes to Jhon Prescot when he was a union rep for the seamans union in Bridge street.Money well spent I don"t think, Who do you think he was looking after?Take out an endownment policy you will get a better return.Don"t live in the past and never forget the past, is my motto.

Yes Vanquished and let's send kids up chimneys and down mines while we're at it!

I agree that union bosses don't come out looking that good. Same for local councillors...

That wouldn't happen - the Laws are now in place and so is the NHS (although it's in a bit of a bad way, and will probably get worse now they are possibly tendering out care). The existence of Unions also don't stop workers being treated like crap unfortunately. Some bosses are just k nobrots.

Laws can be changed, and if they thought for one minute they could get away with it, they would change them.

They can indeed, but it's not the Unions that can change the Laws - that's the Governments "job".

Yes and certain governments would and do change laws to the detriment of working people ( trade union affiliated ) because and only because they are (TUA).

I've lived in both worlds, no unions and with unions. 31 years in the Forces where just discipline and fair play sorted things out. I could live with that because we were all in the same boat, harsh sometimes but what the heck. 7 years in the middle in civvie street and working with shop stewards who buttered their own bread. You had to assume that it worked its way up the ladder in the same way and it did because the union men got the advancement whilst the plebs got rock all.
Out of the forces and into the unions again and it was still no different after 23 years away from it. My flesh used to crawl at the antics at union meetings but they were a necessary evil, just in case, (legal back up etc.) so I just paid up and shut up. The theory is great but the application is found wanting. Once the unions got so big they just turned into bosses, back to square 1 execept that you had to watch your back as well as your front.

Bert, spot on mate. People have very short memories and think employee abuse is a thing of the past.

I have seen substances being used in total disregard of h&s coshh etc.

I have seen people working unpaid.

I have seen workers get a b*ll*k*ng when it has been their managers fault.

I have seen people get deductions from pay illegally.

I have seen companies employ people in a dicrimnatory manner.

I have seen employees getting assaulted.

I have seen employees getting abused and/or bullied.

I have seen people go without pay rises year after year.

I have seen people that have been sacked unfairly.

I have seen employees having to use the incorrect equipment.

I have seen employees having to use unsafe/broken equipment.

I bet nearly everybody has seen some of those things go on, now why do we need unions, mmmm, let me think

none of that surprises me knowing your profession DD

employee abuse is not a thing of the past which proves the point after decades on unionism it"s bloody worse.I bet the six guys who got their cards last night at Corus won"t be hot footing it down to join the unemployed union.

I don't know the details of the men losing their jobs a Corus but i assume they would have received notice or payed notice, any holiday pay owing and if entitled, redundancy money. They will also be entitled to benefits of some description. None of these were available prior to unions being formed. So a worthwhile step in the right direction there.

The words "necessary evil" comes to mind.