Comments on Mooselet's Aussie Life: Why I Joined the Union

I think unions should be evaluated on a case by ca...

2009-09-06T02:34:31.065+10:00

I think unions should be evaluated on a case by case basis. Some industries benefit from their collective horsepower, others are a slave to it.

My issue with unions is that they can lead to unreasonable and inflexible industry benchmarks that are very difficult to change. This can lead to an unnecessarily high cost of doing business and therefore high product costs.

Technically, they could probably produce automobiles for much less cost but with the UAW in charge, the auto industry has little ability to bring in younger, less expensive and fresher-thinking talent. Sometimes this is a good thing, other times it's restricting.

There, enough said... I don't want to be deleted like our friend Terry. ;-)

Unfortunately Mooselet, the timing is not somethin...

2009-09-04T11:55:04.093+10:00

Unfortunately Mooselet, the timing is not something that could really be helped given that the award came up for review at this time....no choices there.

Totally agree with you about Bligh. *sigh* Don't get me started or I will never stop! Lol!

And yes, we all work hard (heck, I would like a mother pay rise.....if only that would happen!!!!) but there is a whole lot more to the teacher's industrial action that what the public is aware of, I believe. I could prattle on for hours about it but hey, that's just me!

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now! Rofpmsl!

I think a well run union is not a bad thing. The ...

2009-09-04T04:51:41.881+10:00

I think a well run union is not a bad thing. The problems in the states is that most are not well run. Although, if it hadn't been for the Teanster's abuses, Erisa would never have been passed and I wouldn't have had such a well paying career.
As for Teachers, I have long held the belief that they are the most underpaid category of workers in the world. It is disgusting that we pay multi-million dollar salaries to sports stars and pay teachers (at least in the states) less than file clerks and janitors. In large part Teachers determine the direction and intelligence of our children. They deserve a lot ore than we give them, including respect.
Go with your heart on this one Mooselet.

...and my "delete" comment was referring...

2009-09-03T21:35:58.507+10:00

...and my "delete" comment was referring to Terry's longwinded blah blah blah.

First off my apologies to those who saw the ridicu...

2009-09-03T18:19:20.409+10:00

First off my apologies to those who saw the ridiculous and totally out of context comments from "Terry". I'm sure we can all sympathize with Jen when we have family who try to hurt us in a public forum by sounding reasonable and contrite when really they're pricks. Terry, I don't care about "your side of the story" and if you continue to try and use my blog as such you will be deleted. Don't fuck with me...

BrissieMum if conditions were different I would agree with you. Most teachers do a good job with dwindling resources and deal with a lot of crap. I just think now is not the time to be asking for 18+% over 3 years. I know a lot of people who would love 12% over 3 years. But I will say Captain Bligh needs to get off the ship. :-)

Mumfies - I'm a lot like you, but I just found my need to have a voice in my working conditions overrode my instinctive objections. The trick now will be to see how it pans out over 3 years and if I feel heard.

I'm not a fan of unions. I find them to be the...

2009-09-03T12:44:24.140+10:00

I'm not a fan of unions. I find them to be the bully. That's just my opinion.

Teachers - well, we all work hard, not only teachers. We all put in plenty of unpaid and unacknowledged time. I know I'd love my pay to go up. I'm in childcare, don't think you can get much lower pay than that! I've had other jobs in my life and I've had to study and work my way up. I gave it away for my family and don't regret it. I haven't missed out on much of what they've done. It's only money!
I do enjoy my job so I'm not complaining.

I think we all agree to disagree. I love freedom of speech and it shouldn't mean we have to take things personally. If we were all the same life would be pretty boring!

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. I am ful...

2009-09-03T09:51:11.275+10:00

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. I am fully in support of the QTU stand on teacher pay rises. Work conditions for teachers in Queensland have rapidly been declining over the last 10+ years. The majority of teachers constantly put in hours and hours of unpaid and unacknowledged work. Not to mention the numerous difficulties that they have to put up with on a day-to-day basis. There is a whole world to teaching out there that neither the government nor the media want recognise. Ok, the timing may not be particularly great, but unfortunately due to industrial procedures, it cannot be helped. It is interesting though that over 80% of state teachers voted to support industrial action from the outset of the union's campaign. This surely makes a very strong statement to the Bligh government that as a professional group, they feel completely undervalued.

Oh and as for unionism....ummmm...it's the Australian way! That's why that Eureka flag gets hauled out everytime someone rallies! Lol!

Where's my delete button?

2009-09-03T08:25:05.895+10:00

Where's my delete button?

The union concept has its merits. It's only as...

2009-09-03T03:00:47.593+10:00

The union concept has its merits. It's only as effective as its leaders. If they don't do a good job of negotiating on behalf of the members, then it could be less than effective.

Like elections, voting is important. If the members don't vote or voice their desires or opinions they have to live with the decisions made by their leaders.

Beware of corruption among the leadership. That's something that unions in the States have had to deal with over the years.

Maybe the Aussies are a little more honorable.

I had no union troubles when I belonged.