Issue No 53 | 12 May 2000 | |
Letters to the EditorFan Mail
Dear Sir, I find these words difficult to write to the point of near paralysis, but I agree almost in entirety with your editorial, from Workers Online, May 5 2000. The only part I found difficult to digest was that by omission, your etchings appeared to give the impression that the Old School of membership was to be discarded. It is possible, this may have only be the interpretation on my part. If it was , I apologize. Of course the inferences you put on the dramatic loss of Union membership are not the exclusive reasons for people walking away from Unions. I believe you will find that members who ponder on leaving or non-members on not joining, are influenced greatly by the impression the Officials make on them, and that fact that a great many wankers have obtained Official positions through patronage, not ability. To use "Little Richos'" phrase "The mob always finds you out" I also believe when the trauma suffered by the schoolteachers , who through peer pressure felt it necessary to behave in the manner they have, finally surfaces , this Teachers Federation will notice a mass exodus of membership. Trade Unionism is a populist business, which relies on personal recommendation which is extremely rare today even with a somewhat belligerent federal government, and although you can fool some of the people some of the time, you can not fool all of the people all of the time. Particularly a membership that has be neglected. These dinosaurs have been unable to evolve to the new environment, and like King Canute, now stand on the beach attempting to hold back the tide, while the cronies and toadies are like babies in soiled diapers, they smell, but it is warm and soft and comfortable. I have and continue to communicate with Trade Unionism world wide and new visions are far and few between. Intellectual derelicts and emotional bankrupts motivate their policies with no purpose or goal other than, perpetuating a gravy train for untalented mediocre nepotism from political dynasties. As one who was bred with a working class trade unionism culture from the Shipyards of the Clyde, and suckled on the milk of union activism, I also have had to retrace my steps , and walk back down the yellow brick road , away from these wankers, and with with a tear in my Eye. Its time to take the collective Union head out of the collective Union Arse , and get down to brass tacks....before its too late? Tom Collins
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Interview: The Fruitful Shaw After ten years in Parliament, NSW Industrial Relations Minister Jeff Shaw looks at some mountains still to be climbed. Politics: Budget in Reply Opposition Leader Kim Beazley replies to the Federal budget and paints Labor's alternative vision for the future. Economics: Petition to Move a Mountain A child born in Zambia or Tanzania or Bolivia owes more to international creditors than she or he will ever earn in a lifetime. International: Solidarity in a Cold Climate After an overnight bargaining marathon, Norway's unions have secured most of their main demands and have now ended their nationwide strike. Health: Workers Health Centre Comes of Age In 2001, the Workers Health Centre will celebrate its 25th anniversary, making it the longest running independent trade union based health and safety service in the country. History: A Tribute to the Fallen A Canadian tractor operator is seeking help to produce a book on monuments to people killed in the workplace. Satire: Ralph Web Ring Busted Following the dismissal of 27 Telstra employees last week for downloading hardcore pornography on their work computers, Ralph magazine sacked five employees yesterday for downloading positive images of women. Review: Waterfront - Through the Reporters' Eyes Fairfax journalists Helen Trinca and Anne Davies have skillfully transformed the waterfront war into the sort of thriller that any self-respecting Hollywood mogul would reject for being too wild to be true.
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