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Why is it, in modern Australia, that the two most powerful unions are never questioned about their activities?

When was the last time that you read a newspaper article questioning the policies of Australia's most powerful unions?

Did you know that single phone call from one of these unions can stop the publication of important news that effects the health and wellbeing of thousands of people?

Do all politicall candidates tell you that to be elected and remain in office they must bow to the power of these two unions and not to question their activities?

I refer to The Australian Farmers Federation and the Australian Medical Association.

Somewhat miffed.

Take care,

Gordon.

Unions = legalized organized crime. Period.

BabyRider wrote: Unions = legalized organized crime. Period.
In your opinion, does a group of workers not have any justification for wanting collective bargaining, BR? I think the US media have said "Unions = legalized organized crime" for so many years now that it's a kneejerk assumption rather than a sensible attitude.

Go on, talk to me about it for a few messages, it's interesting. There's safety aspects as well as pay and conditions. What else is there? Assume we're talking about MacDonalds, perhaps, and the cooks at the back of the shops.

spot wrote: In your opinion, does a group of workers not have any justification for wanting collective bargaining, BR? I think the US media have said "Unions = legalized organized crime" for so many years now that it's a kneejerk assumption rather than a sensible attitude.



Go on, talk to me about it for a few messages, it's interesting. There's safety aspects as well as pay and conditions. What else is there? Assume we're talking about MacDonalds, perhaps, and the cooks at the back of the shops.
Actually, Spot, I'm talking about the unions my husband has to deal with working at General Motors. This group of hourly employees get away with any and everything, from being drunk on the job, to not even showing up for work for weeks at a time and still retaining their jobs because the unions protect them. My husband could be fired at the drop of a hat for saying one wrong thing to an hourly worker, and the hourly workers can have offense, after offense on their records and still maintain their jobs, their seniority, and their pay rate.

BabyRider wrote: Actually, Spot, I'm talking about the unions my husband has to deal with working at General Motors. This group of hourly employees get away with any and everything, from being drunk on the job, to not even showing up for work for weeks at a time and still retaining their jobs because the unions protect them. My husband could be fired at the drop of a hat for saying one wrong thing to an hourly worker, and the hourly workers can have offense, after offense on their records and still maintain their jobs, their seniority, and their pay rate.OK, that qualifies for Unions = legalized organized crime. Why the "Period."? Or are there no circumstances where Unions do not = legalized organized crime?

spot wrote: OK, that qualifies for Unions = legalized organized crime. Why the "Period."? Or are there no circumstances where Unions do not = legalized organized crime?
Not that I know of, but then again, I am only familiar with the ones my husband deals with. Perhaps things are different on your side of the pond?

There is a growing need for unions in todays world. The problems only come when they get hijacked by political activists or by criminals.

golem wrote: There is a growing need for unions in todays world. The problems only come when they get hijacked by political activists or by criminals.
Perhaps you missed my post about what unions are like here, Golem? (Not being a smart-ass, just wondering...)

No, I did read your post and I remember the things that went on in Britain when I was reading for my bachelors at Manchester University and how the unions were killing the UK car industry.

That was in the very early 60’s and it got worse but because the individual members so often wouldn’t take any action themselves and because weak government wouldn’t tackle the criminality that the unions got up to.

It got progressively worse up to the point that Britain became bankrupt and the election of the Thatcher government who although very unpopular amongst many, mostly those who didn’t see where the problems really lay, did sort out the mess though at terrible but unavoidable social costs.