Labor keep hiring from the dodgy unions?

[Mad Mat]

Hands up who said the ALP couldn't organise a root in a brothel?

[Sojourner]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-seize-shovel-as-thomson-furore-deepens-20110826-1jd2k.html

Unions living up to their bullying tactics or just a misplaced gardening tool?

Not sure what else she was supposed to do instead of going to the police, a, the Liberal Party had handed over the dossier to the police who had begun investigations anyway and b, if she had not have then charges could have been laid over them doing nothing about it anyway as its a crime not to bring forward information if you have it on potential criminal activity, given the media focus on the case those charges definitely would have been laid if it she did not take it further.

Will be interesting to see what happens to her in terms of a political career, the factions in the ALP may not be very fond of her, but a lot of her union members feel that she has done the right thing and is being unfairly targeted.

[Tassie Blues]

Hands up who said the ALP couldn't organise a root in a brothel?

even when he did he still f**** it up

[bulldogproud2]

Hands up who said the ALP couldn't organise a root in a brothel?

even when he did he still f**** it up

Isn't that what you are supposed to do in a brothel?

[best on hill]

unions = bad (only if you are a dodgy business owner/manager who exploit workers and there rights)
capitalism = good (just ask the yanks what capitalism has done for them)

this thread is just another capitalist pig trying to repress with scare mongering, remember where the labor party came from.

[Sky Pilot]

I for one do support the traditional role of the Trade Union Movement, the main issue that I have is that some of the Unions seem to have forgotten where they came from and why they were set up in the first place.

Unions should be screaming blue bloody murder over the complete lack of Tariff protection for Australian industry. It goes totally beyond the pale that a furniture company can import for no tariff at all into Australia from Malaysia often with goods made from rain forest timber, yet an Australian exporter to Malaysia cops a 30+ % tariff. It makes me very upset to watch Australian industry being decimated in this manner and not a whimper of protest being made to the ALP through the Union movement.

Heinous working conditions in China, yet no call by unions for boycott of the Olympic Games, The "Fair Trade" movement seems to enjoy no support from the Union movement, one would think that improving working conditions in other countries improves conditions here when the field becomes more level.

Unions sit back and say nothing whilst staff at the Hampstead Centre get a pay cut in the form of car parking fees.

It was great that we won an 8 hour day, but how long ago was that and what has happened to the working week since then? Get these issues right and the Unions could become very popular with a number of people, why they cant seem to care less anymore is anyones guess however.

Mmmm, just picked up on this. I think you are right.

[straight talker]

I for one do support the traditional role of the Trade Union Movement, the main issue that I have is that some of the Unions seem to have forgotten where they came from and why they were set up in the first place.

Unions should be screaming blue bloody murder over the complete lack of Tariff protection for Australian industry. It goes totally beyond the pale that a furniture company can import for no tariff at all into Australia from Malaysia often with goods made from rain forest timber, yet an Australian exporter to Malaysia cops a 30+ % tariff. It makes me very upset to watch Australian industry being decimated in this manner and not a whimper of protest being made to the ALP through the Union movement.

Heinous working conditions in China, yet no call by unions for boycott of the Olympic Games, The "Fair Trade" movement seems to enjoy no support from the Union movement, one would think that improving working conditions in other countries improves conditions here when the field becomes more level.

Unions sit back and say nothing whilst staff at the Hampstead Centre get a pay cut in the form of car parking fees.

It was great that we won an 8 hour day, but how long ago was that and what has happened to the working week since then? Get these issues right and the Unions could become very popular with a number of people, why they cant seem to care less anymore is anyones guess however.

Mmmm, just picked up on this. I think you are right.

well have a look at how howes changed his mind! If we lose one job thru this carbon tax there will be hell to pay?? Now he says its the best thing since sliced bread.... I wonder if the majority of his union members are behind him on this??

[Psyber]

unions = bad (only if you are a dodgy business owner/manager who exploit workers and there rights)
capitalism = good (just ask the yanks what capitalism has done for them)

this thread is just another capitalist pig trying to repress with scare mongering, remember where the labor party came from.

Unions can be bad when they ignore the needs of the workers they allegedly represent to make power deals, which is not rare these days.
In medical practice I've supported a lot of workers in their WorkCover claims after their Unions left them out in the cold.
I've also had to refer them to independent lawyers after the Union retained lawyers lost interest.
I even, once, got a Liberal Premier - John Olsen - to intervene with WorkCover on behalf of a worker who was being shafted by all.

Capitalism? - raw capitalism is as bad or as good as any other political system that is allowed to go to extremes.
That is why checks and balances are needed to restrict extremists of any political type, and the ultimate power needs to be with the voters.
Controlled Capitalism seems to be fairly effective though.

What the Yanks are suffering from may be their political system and extreme attitude to "Freedom" and "Rights".
On one side they have a party that has a very restrictive attitude to taxation, and on the other one that wants to spend the money before they fight out the taxation issue and have the revenue to spend.
Both seem to be driven by the search for power and not able to believe they have any hope of winning office if they say that things do need to be changed and a responsible government needs to change them, and to raise the revenue needed to pay for them and reduce the debt already built up by this system.

They may be right in their assessment of the average US voter.
Perhaps compulsory voting would change US politics for the better?!

[straight talker]

its a pity the union boss paul howes doesnt! Does he stick up for his union members? i dont think so i think hes doing his best to look after juliar and wants to be the next union duff to slide in to politics.

[straight talker]

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/08/25/the ... n-leaders/

[Q.]

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/08/25/the-power-index-labor-party-suffering-at-the-hands-of-union-leaders/

Good read isn't it. I reckon everyone should have a read through The Power Index, absolutely fascinating stuff (well, I think it is anyway ).

[straight talker]

most certainly is Q.

[Sky Pilot]

I for one do support the traditional role of the Trade Union Movement, the main issue that I have is that some of the Unions seem to have forgotten where they came from and why they were set up in the first place.

Unions should be screaming blue bloody murder over the complete lack of Tariff protection for Australian industry. It goes totally beyond the pale that a furniture company can import for no tariff at all into Australia from Malaysia often with goods made from rain forest timber, yet an Australian exporter to Malaysia cops a 30+ % tariff. It makes me very upset to watch Australian industry being decimated in this manner and not a whimper of protest being made to the ALP through the Union movement.

Heinous working conditions in China, yet no call by unions for boycott of the Olympic Games, The "Fair Trade" movement seems to enjoy no support from the Union movement, one would think that improving working conditions in other countries improves conditions here when the field becomes more level.

Unions sit back and say nothing whilst staff at the Hampstead Centre get a pay cut in the form of car parking fees.

It was great that we won an 8 hour day, but how long ago was that and what has happened to the working week since then? Get these issues right and the Unions could become very popular with a number of people, why they cant seem to care less anymore is anyones guess however.

Mmmm, just picked up on this. I think you are right.

well have a look at how howes changed his mind! If we lose one job thru this carbon tax there will be hell to pay?? Now he says its the best thing since sliced bread.... I wonder if the majority of his union members are behind him on this??

I wouldn't count on it. I believe not too many of them can read or write - they are just told to pay their union dues or lose their job

[straight talker]

howes is a di$khead who should not be in charge of anything he is an absolute clown who has made himself look silly. Anyone who pays a union fees now needs looking into! Have a look whats come out lately, i for one will be throwing my membership away as i am not paying for someone to go to hookers and giving out loans to stop people from going bankrupt and wining and dining also flights for families of union bosses! No way in the world. goodbye deviout unions you should all be ashamed of yourselves.

[straight talker]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-16/h ... ite=sydney

[straight talker]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6141059441

[Sky Pilot]

How about those dorky flouro unionists at Qantas in Sydney on tv news this morning? The spokesman dude (with the beard) had a similar IQ to a small soap dish and there he was taking the piss out of Qantas management. The more they agitate and make themselves unemployable through unprofitable militancy the quicker the airline will be moving (more) jobs off shore. If they had half a brain they could see that and just shut up, thank the company for employing them and get on with life.

[straight talker]

but certain people on this site will tell you australian workers have never had it so good under this incompetent labor government!! more strikes going on than anytime, oh well this fair work australia is working isnt it?? ha ha ha ha

[smac]

I suppose this fits here:

http://www.news.com.au/national/craig-t ... 6222453020

This bloke stinks, be surprising if the party doesn't kick him to the kerb themselves.

[southee]

I suppose this fits here:

http://www.news.com.au/national/craig-t ... 6222453020

This bloke stinks, be surprising if the party doesn't kick him to the kerb themselves.

He is a utter disgrace but gillard is too for standing by and doing sweet fa !!!

Can't believe this guys indiscretions have been swept under the carpet so much