What have the unions done for"Small, Fat and Old" Workers?

[kyle887923]

LMFAO...think of what the workforce would acctually be like without unions?

[Jimmy1tooth]

read "the failure of the liuna internal reform" and tell me if you want to be in a union

[buffdiggy]

scab labor & automation is killing the nation!

[studentofsmith]

@buffdiggy "automation is killing the nation!"

Did you know the word "sabotage" derives from the Netherlands in the 15th century when workers would throw their sabots (wooden shoes) into the wooden gears of the textile looms to break the cogs, feeling the automated machines would render human workers obsolete?

Interesting how little things have changed over the last 500 years.

[mackenziepricee]

What a great ad. Wish it was on again this election!

[mackenziepricee]

What a great ad.

[canadastreetmedia]

IATSE 891 Vancouver B.C. CANADA

special UNION members can control the work distribution system to ensure there friends and family members And or those Politicaly correct to them get the Monies available from the UNION contracted Employers list .

it can be asimilar to

Elected Political Parties distributing TAXPAYERS Monies thru juicy contracts to there Special friends etc...and Political supporters...

its always about who gets the monies.

[joshua1auhsoj]

"I consider it important, indeed urgently necessary, for intellectual workers to get together, both to protect their own economic status and, also, generally speaking, to secure their influence in the political field."

-- Albert Einstein, on why he joined American Federation of Teachers, Local 552, as a charter member.

[blokky01]

hahahahahaha gotta love ya Joe, if more WA workers had your balls they'd all be better off.....mines survive...the rest of it is a dog fight to the death, construction workers would be killed every week by greedy bosses in WA if it wasnt for Union motivated safety and men and women with the tenacity of Joe

[basooome]

To all you pathetic hypocrites, if you hate the union so much then give up on every single right the union brought you...let me list a few - maternity leave, superannuation, workers' compensation, medicare, the awards system, occupational health and safety, paid annual leave, collective bargaining, pay increases, tea/lunch breaks...and the WEEKEND! So all you fuckin hypocrites can give them all up and leave it to us union lovers. lol, pathetic cheap rhetoric!

[304teddy]

ever see the movie "matewan" theres your world without the union thats the facts.

[DarrelfromZeeland]

Fuck Hollyweird and anything that comes from it.

[Idude893]

"F*#$ Hollyweird and anything that comes from it"

I'm starting to believe that you're just trying to get attention.

[wkruk1979]

what i tell ya ha

[wkruk1979]

stop swearing darrel thats NOT CHRISTIAN

[peacelord]

LOUUUUD

[jeremydmarshall]

What do unions and have the mafia have in common?

- Extortion

- Threats

- Intimidation

- Bullying

Yeah, unions are great.

[304teddy]

extortion, threats, intimidation, bullying is exactly what big business does to its employees. unions just give the workers a fighting chance to not take it.

[Tuathalful]

@jeremydmarshall bosses are just as likely to engage in any of those. Get real. You union bashing cowards and scabs couldn't care less about ure fellow Australian, you don't understand the consequences of the idiotic, reactionary politics used to herd you into line by anti-union corporate media propaganda. Grow some spine and have solidarity with your workmates, and others like you. Together we have as much if not more bargaining power then the bosses with a natural advantage over individuals!

[SniperViper1000]

@Tuathalful I've never seen a proper boss do that. You've got it wrong stupid. Believe 99.95% of bosses treat their workers well.

[jrwel14]

@jeremydmarshall Unions. created the middle class. Gave people 5 day work weeks. Sick leave, overtime. help to stop such practices as the March 1911 Triangle fire in New York City. Where dozens of women died because their bosses locked the doors. Unions, great if you are a worker. For even if you don't belong to one. You still benefited.

[phobal]

unions are great, but don't get me started on the stupidity behind pension plans. retirement is an individual responsibility, not a collective problem.

[DarrelfromZeeland]

If it was up to be, all unions would be outlawed, declared to be terrorist groups, then hammered with both RICO and the Patriot Act. Their assets and property would be seized, their members and supporters would be executed or sent to Gitmo to do butt pyramids with their mudscum butt buddies.

[ChukkovProductions]

How on Earth can that guy call someone fat. Damn hypocrite.

[WhoCaresFU]

Just look at the public school system....

[awaidelich]

The unions in this country are one the few things that still try to keep us (Americans) working. I belong Local #886 Cement Masons in Toledo, Ohio and I make $27.39/hour on my check. Plus my pension, annuity, health and welfare my total value I'm working for is over $44.00/hour. If I didn't belong to this union I would still be a scab pouring basements and driveways for $11.00/hour with no pension or health benefits. So fuck all you scabs. UNITED WE STAND!

[IWLocal8]

Exactly!

It's a damned shame that those who don't know anything about Unions accuse them of BS.

When greed disappears, we might not need Unions. Until then...

[GutZGator]

awaidelich, well you're one of the lucky few, come to Fla. where we have the (RAT) Right

to work law, here unions & its brotherhood are too busy putting the knives in each others backs & don't stick together. I am proud to say I'm no longer in the wanna be union here in this state, they want their dues money even when your out of work sitting on the bench & letting their buddies go to work before you do and you were next in line to go to work. Working union in Fla. is just like working scab.....

[DarrelfromZeeland]

Unions ruin every industry they touch. Been to Detroit or Flint lately? The unions ran the big 3 into the ground. They've ruined the airline, steel, and textile industries and our schools. Why should anyone get paid $27 an hour for a job a monkey could do? My brother could hire a Mexican to do your job for $3 an hour. Supporting unions is begging to be unemployed.

[jeremydmarshall]

Exactly!

So enjoy your unions boys, your companies will become less and less competitive, go broke, get a bailout from the government, your government will eventually run out of money, increase taxes on your non-unionized more competitive US counterparts and send them broke too, then boo yah! America's downfall will be complete.

3 cheers for your unions!!!

[DarrelfromZeeland]

You forgot that the company will have to move overseas. The unions are the biggest reason we're losing jobs to China and other 3rd world countries. Why pay some union slug $50 an hour to screw in bolts when they can get some gook to do it for 5 cents an hour? The unions and liberal-imposed taxes and labor and envorionmental laws, along with our worthless public schools(run by teacher's unions) are doing a great job building China's, Mexico's, and India's economy.

[Idude893]

Unions allow workers to secure their rights in the workplaces.

[IWLocal8]

GOOK??? I'm glad people with your racist mindset are on the other side of the fence.

[IWLocal8]

Not competative? LMAO Name one nonunion contractor that can build a retractable roof stadium.

[DarrelfromZeeland]

My brother's company could do it easily. He only hires Mexicans, who are happy with the $2-$4 an hour he pays them and a free lunch.

[Idude893]

Damn, you have a brother?

[wkruk1979]

im turning you in your brother may be bringing in terrorists to america by hireing illegal workers

plus u said before u wanted illegal workers out fo america so jobs can return, witch one is it? I KNEW U WERE UN AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[IWLocal8]

LMFAO You're still a dreamer SemenDarrel.

[wkruk1979]

the type that falls apart is retractable but just once lol

[IWLocal8]

LMAO

[awaidelich]

@DarrelfromZeeland I support you on the UAW and most commercial unions but trade unions are much different. I am a union cement mason and I would never work for a non-union company ever again.

[jasonsg4111]

@awaidelich Right on Brother. I'm from IBEW Local 529 (Electricians Union).

[shananagans5]

@awaidelich And then you are going to bitch when your union drives your employer out of business because everyone is getting paid more than they are worth.

[awaidelich]

@shananagans5 So tell me, what do YOU do for a living? My job is by far one of the most physically challenging of all the trades. Come work for my company for one day and we'll see who is crying about pulling a screed for 6 hours straight then jumping on sliders and wiping out a 20,000 square foot floor with only 5 other guys...making for a 14 hour day with NO break.

[shananagans5]

@awaidelich Sounds like you need to get a better job.

[awaidelich]

@shananagans5 Actually I love my job.

[SniperViper1000]

@awaidelich Just because you get a higher pay doesn't mean it's better for the economy.

Selfish bastard.

[awaidelich]

@SniperViper1000 You obviously don't understand how an economy works. The fact that people make more money DOES mean it's better for the economy. The more people make, the more they spend, thus stimulating the economy. Also, people tend to do a better job when they are highly compensated making the company better over all.,..the company gets more contracts because of their outstanding work and then they hire more people to balance the work load. That means more people spending more money.

[shananagans5]

@awaidelich Paying people more than they are worth in the free market does not help the economy. That causes inflation. Productivity helps the economy. If paying people more than they are worth worked we could just pay everyone $200 an hr and all be rich. lol You are only looking at half of the picture. If everyone was overpayed it would simply drive the price of everythig up resulting in more $ floating around but no gain.

[awaidelich]

@shananagans5 Yes, you're right. But you mistakenly thought I said everyone derserves more than they are worth. I am a SKILLED TRADESMAN (keyword: SKILLED). Not everybody can do what I do...and not everybody can do other trades' jobs. Don't cofuse me with the lazy fuck in the GM plant who tightens bolts for $30/hr. That man is over-payed...EXTREMELY!! (You can thank the UAW for that).

[awaidelich]

@shananagans5 I don't want people to be payed more than they are worth...just compensated fairly. Which is a thing that most companies can't comprehend so people organized to protect themselves from the greed of corporate slime. So, yes, my idea of a healthy economy does work.

[MrAlsfan5]

@shananagans5 You're so right. Let's cut the salaries of the CEO's.

[awaidelich]

@SniperViper1000 If you didn't have your head so far up your own ass you might have thought of that for yourself before posting such a dumb fuck comment.

[derekmcmillan1951]

I can't imagine employers paying the slightest bit of attention to their workers' interests if they didn't have unions.

If you don't like the leadership of your union you can always change it.

If you don't like your boss's arrogant attitude you didn't elect him!

[bobosharkey]

@derekmcmillan1951 If you don't like your boss's arrogant attitude GET ANOTHER JOB!

[LitaGilliesUnionMaid]

Joe MacDonald works to protect workers from the Building Industry Improvement Act with the help of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, legislates so that workers in the building industry have less legal rights than a person who commits murder.

[LitaGilliesUnionMaid]

You have edited the video so that it shows the incident out of context.

Joe MacDonald was having a dig at the management of a construction company who had been trying to get rid of unionized workers on unreasonable grounds. Hence his comment regarding getting rid of people because they were too fat, too old etc

[LitaGilliesUnionMaid]

Giving workers a decent wage does not destroy/hurt any business that is run properly, as long as it is not being undermined by competition in the global economy (namely third world poverty wages). If it is, nothing will save it.

What we should be arguing about, is how we can save the planet before we ALL destroy it irreversibly! Of course, we ALL may have to accept that financial prosperity come second to protecting our planet. Oh, the irony...

[LitaGilliesUnionMaid]

Actually, economics 101 tells you that in the history of our economy industrial action and union activity has NEVER threatened our economy!

Rudd's government is not a socialist government. And, there should be politicians with union backgrounds to balance the number of politicians that have business/law backgrounds. Business is a lobby group with huge resources, just as unions are a lobby group with limited resources.Both have an interest in being represented.

That's democracy for you!

[171277]

How come this joe Mcdonald is causing a prblem now under a lib govt. I do not get it.

[danthegi66]

I don't get this add at all. He's there because that company (QCon) breached the workplace health and safety act and then refused to remedy the breaches. And WorkChoices did nothing to protect the WH&S or conditions of those workers. I'd be swearing, too...

[jeremydmarshall]

So what you are saying is that you condone this behaviour?

That is why noone should vote for labour. The labour party and its supporters are people just like you.

[danthegi66]

So what you are saying is that you condone unsafe workplaces for workers? Sorry, I don't get you either.

[jeremydmarshall]

Is there any public record of your allegations?

Or are you just repeating the words of your favourite commi left wing website?

What is established as fact, is that this man went onto a worksite and started calling people short, fat, and old!!! Do you condone this?

Everything you are saying is just hearsay and should be disregarded.

[fuckrupert]

May I remember potential liberal voters that Mr. John Howard excused Mr. Pratts ripoff of each and every Australian.

Vote liberal - they support high-level criminals, and which liberal isn't dreaming of making a fortune by screwing others.

[jeremydmarshall]

haha, hyperbole much?

[fuckrupert]

Not really, I just read newspaper every now and then. No worries, Rudd will be as much of a corrupt parasite like Howard once elected.

[chanlord]

I'm sure the liberal party has members that they'd be embarrassed of...

[cassowaryind]

It seams that way here during the election, The labor party will have over 80% of its elected members as former trade Unionists, if they win Government Australia will be the New Comminist Country. So you can pick up a turb by the clean end. Rudd the leader is a smooth talking socialist with an unknown adjenda. sence the term.

[koldaussie]

and being a socialist is wrong how? just remember that unions stopped kids from working in the mines.. and gave you weekends and so many things that you enjoy..

[cassowaryind]

Lets see .. I started work at 11, and I haven't looked back. Labor is criticizing Howard for working until he retires?? isn't that against the Equal opportunities commission to say that someone should stop work when they want to work?Just think Russia and China, then Australia, We will be working for a bowel of rice and food vouchers, Rudd did say he wanted to give out Vouchers for everything Just like in Russia? Maybe we will be the new Russia,

[jeremydmarshall]

Yes, it is wrong. Socialists are inherently anti-prosperity. Every business kid in Australia learns that for themselves in Economics 101.

[volantare]

California had one of the most laisse faire electricity systems in the western world, and it was more inflationary, more unreliable, and far more open to corruption than any other in the United States. Victoria has a far more unreliable electricity/natural gas system than NSW currently has, yet it is privatised and therefore SHOULD be more efficient. In failed markets the question is how public services are run, not whether the public should run them.

[jeremydmarshall]

Typically during the shift from public to private there is always a painful period of adjustment. It can last a decade and maybe more... the benefits are always there... just takes longer in most cases.

[volantare]

for example?

[jeremydmarshall]

British telecom, Commonwealth bank, I could pull out a whole list...

[dankru]

Yep all good examples of where consumers have suffered. Rural customers lose branches and the Commonwealth Bank charges through the nose now that it is privatised.

[jeremydmarshall]

In this open competitive market, choose anyone EXCEPT the Commonwealth. Because you are right, the Commonwealth bank is probably THE WORST bank in Australia. Exactly the reason why it should have been privatised and subjected to competitive pressure.

[djheap]

And let's not forget the stellar benefits of privatizing British Rail: two decades+ on, travelers on what used to be one of the greatest rail systems in the world now enjoy less service, less safety, missed connections and gouging prices. And Thatcher only had to give away billions in public assets and subsidies to achieve this stunning blow for market rationality! Matched only by the water privatisations (less drinkable quality for higher prices: great profits!).