[QUOTE=Deeranged;40064140]Because unions are not essential to the running of a company, the company employs people not the unions
Union just the same as most companies, the guy at the top gets the biggest wages
This I agree with, nobody should be forced to work beyond their contracted hours. Overtime is used by employers to reduce head count and base wages however it's also very useful for the person working it. Flip side is, as I'm sure many of us have experienced, when the overtime dries up the employee can find it difficult to live on the reduced income so it almost becomes an essential and an unwritten (although also often written) requirement of contracts of employment.
in many workplaces overtime rates are long gone ,many companies only offer 20 hour contracts, but in reality expect staff to work far more hours ,then when there's a quiet period ,the employer cuts back to the contracted hours ,still find it incredible that people need benefits to top up their wages ,funded by the taxpayer while the companies make huge profits for the shareholders
Agree with you about the hours. Can't think what legislation was brought in the allowed or created zero hour contracts. Think the pay of bosses should be related to the pay that their employees get plus some share of an incentive scheme that everyone participates in. John Lewis Partnership had something along those lines but they have been killing their own business with online retailing which supports profits but kills their shop workers.
Apologies for the digression. I think unions could be much more helpful to their employers but somehow they are regarded as the enemy within. A bit like the attitude of some football owners to supporters and their organisations.
[QUOTE=jdfc;40064336]I was a union member once for about two years. I stopped paying fees because I felt they were not representing me.
I now work in a job where my terms and conditions are miles better than they were back then, and I mean miles better. I got those conditions by individual negotiation and without the help of any union and specifically without the help of any union fat cat. So from my perspective your argument that 'without unions we'd all be working to terms and conditions similar to Amazon and Hermes' is total nonsense.
Get rid of your unions and start looking after yourself, it's the only way to go. **** the collective - we're not The Borg after all.
[QUOTE=Deeranged;40064411]Come on, do you honestly believe someone working for a multinational company could just roll up at the headquarters and speak to the head honcho and ask for his own personal pay and conditions,
It’s sad you were let down by your union, but remember all the conditions we have now were fought and won by unions, you might not want to accept that but it’s true