Workers, sold down the river by a labour government.

[Stat Brother]

I'm in no way a political person, somewhat woolly liberal in views & ca la vie, in attitude.

Being a Postie I'm now in the middle of a union/management struggle, & it's not pretty.

I managed to see most of Prime Ministers Question Time, today, the last before recess.
Brown was asked, by a Labour MP, would he get the management to talk to CWU in order to resolve the strike over, pay & conditions.

Basically Brown said that he wouldn't because of inflation, blah blah blah.
The fact that this ISN'T about pay we've been offered 2.5% & if that was it, to my knowledge, we would be more than happy.

Surely there must be some middle ground, god forbid we go back to the 70's but nevertheless a working man should get some support from the powers at be.

No wonder the Tory's don't have a cat in hell's chance of ever reaching high office, because they are already there.

 

[Brovion]

I'm in no way a political person, somewhat woolly liberal in views & ca la vie, in attitude.

Being a Postie I'm now in the middle of a union/management struggle, & it's not pretty.

I managed to see most of Prime Ministers Question Time, today, the last before recess.
Brown was asked, by a Labour MP, would he get the management to talk to CWU in order to resolve the strike over, pay & conditions.

Basically Brown said that he wouldn't because of inflation, blah blah blah.
The fact that this ISN'T about pay we've been offered 2.5% & if that was it, to my knowledge, we would be more than happy.

Surely there must be some middle ground, god forbid we go back to the 70's but nevertheless a working man should get some support from the powers at be.

No wonder the Tory's don't have a cat in hell's chance of ever reaching high office, because they are already there.

You're not wrong. The modern Labour party long ago stopped representing the British working class - it sees them as a bit of an embarrassment now. It hectors them for not being 100% enthusiastic about immigration and sneers at them for their taste in things like clothes and entertainment. Sadly this Gentrification has left a void which in some areas is being filled by the BNP.

 

[cannedheat]

So who represent the British worker these days?, the party my father supported Labour has long gone, my old man was a proud trade unionist and very active within his local branch, if he was alive today I know he would be disgusted that the party he was proud to support has been hijacked.

 

[coventrygull]

The BNP claim to support the British worker. They are even linked to the Independent Union Solidarity

 

[Blue&WhiteSea]

Get back to work!

 

[Stat Brother]

Get back to work!

What, so they can give my job to a part time Balkan, cos they are cheaper.

 

[king Wombat]

What, so they can give my job to a part time Balkan, cos they are cheaper.

part time balkan didn't know the balkanese could change nationality so easily.

 

[Ned]

So how many people out there who are outraged by the lack of representation the working man has lost are members of a union?

Too many people have not joined or let their membership lapse then complained about how they are treated by their employer.

I have personal experience of how the union stopped my employers shafting me for 15% of my wages just in the last 12 months.

 

[Yorkie]

Working for the electricity board I had to join a union in 1977 because it was a closed shop. I am glad I stayed in it when it became optional because I was refused entry into the company pension scheme whilst I was part time.
Forward wind 20 years and the union took the company to court because the part timers had been discriminated against. I got extra years added to my pension fund which was all fought for by the union, going to court no less than 6 times. I now get extra pension thanks to their fight.
We got our wills done free of charge using union solicitors.

 

[Grendel]

So who represent the British worker these days?, the party my father supported Labour has long gone, my old man was a proud trade unionist and very active within his local branch, if he was alive today I know he would be disgusted that the party he was proud to support has been hijacked.

Either the Socialist Workers Party or the Socialist Labour Party.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Simple FACT,if the 'locals' dont like the conditions. Well let get some East Europeans,they will work for less = keeps inflation down. Apart from the joke of Human Rights what Jack Straw signed up to. The Tories are still in power. Please don't give me this minimum wage stuff,it only does ONE thing keep wages down.

 

[Rangdo]

So how many people out there who are outraged by the lack of representation the working man has lost are members of a union?

Too many people have not joined or let their membership lapse then complained about how they are treated by their employer.

I have personal experience of how the union stopped my employers shafting me for 15% of my wages just in the last 12 months.

I used to belong to a union quite a few years back and got sick of their "take it up the arse" attitude to my employer so I stopped my subs. I can get screwed over all on my own without paying a fee for the priviledge.

 

[Yorkie]

Did you vote for the shop steward? Apathy allows the wrong people in. Did you try another union?

 

[Ned]

sounds like you should have changed unions / shop stewards there mate .

 

[withdeanwombat]

Man is born free,but everywhere he is in chains.

 

[tedebear]

I hate to be the voice of dissent here, but this is specific to Royal Mail and their need to modernise. Stat Brother and I have chatted about this on a previous thread, but my premise still remains the same. RM are one of the best postal systems I've ever had the pleasure of using. However, they need to modernise. That is without question. Sadly when anyone modernises these days it means more machines as they are cheaper and talk less . I can't honestly see that union intervention to save these jobs will have any positive effect? They must modernise to save cost, but keeping the staff as well can't be cost effective.

I do however agree with assistance being given to retrain or reemploy these staff who will be made redundant in the face of moderisation. That should be mandatory.

I must add that where I work, I am not part of the Union and refuse to be, given our union reps neaderthal manner of upsetting everyone and everything.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I hate to be the voice of dissent here, but this is specific to Royal Mail and their need to modernise. Stat Brother and I have chatted about this on a previous thread, but my premise still remains the same. RM are one of the best postal systems I've ever had the pleasure of using. However, they need to modernise. That is without question. Sadly when anyone modernises these days it means more machines as they are cheaper and talk less . I can't honestly see that union intervention to save these jobs will have any positive effect? They must modernise to save cost, but keeping the staff as well can't be cost effective.

I do however agree with assistance being given to retrain or reemploy these staff who will be made redundant in the face of moderisation. That should be mandatory.

I must add that where I work, I am not part of the Union and refuse to be, given our union reps neaderthal manner of upsetting everyone and everything.

Companies are hardly falling over themselves to provide an alternative mail distribution service. It's just not cost-effective. With the advent of email, nobody writes letters anymore, just send Xmas and Birthday cards. Most of the mail now is utility bills and junk mail. Why not pass the cost on to the utility companies and the junk mail spammers rather than hammering the workers who have to delliver the stuff?

 

[Buzzer]

A working man should get some support from the powers that be?

Not being funny mate but you're in a union and still have no influence then you need to change jobs. There's millions of us, not in a union who are quite content to do our own negotiations or vote with our feet.

How about the CWU moving a little bit too or is that a step too far into the 21st century for the dinosaurs that run your union?

 

[Beach Hut]

Been in the Union since I started work so 26years and would leave it till I pack up work or are made redundant - I consider money well invested, kind of insurance policy if work goes belly up.

 

[Stat Brother]

A working man should get some support from the powers that be?

Not being funny mate but you're in a union and still have no influence then you need to change jobs. There's millions of us, not in a union who are quite content to do our own negotiations or vote with our feet.

How about the CWU moving a little bit too or is that a step too far into the 21st century for the dinosaurs that run your union?

The management is REFUSING to talk to the Union, I'd like to think there would be some moving on both sides if they ever get in the same room.
Which is why I was concerned that the government, our major stake holder, will not at least have a quiet word with the bosses to say 'hang on a mo, at least talk'. (Like I said woolly liberal, here)

And for the record I'm not in the union, but I feel for the moment the union have been left with no other option.