Unions - and relevancy !

Australian Worker's Union ( AWU ) Secretary Paul Howes hit the nail on the head when he spoke at the ACTU Congress and reported that it will be difficult to raise Australian union membership more than the present twenty percent - unless the unions fight for for non-unionised casuals.

The relevancy of the unions has been slipping steadily over the past few decades because the outlook and vision of the movement has not moved with the times.    Attention remains focussed on the old concept of permanent jobs with people working fixed hours under regimes that are set in concrete as far as conditions are concerned.

The unions have fought multi-skilling tooth and nail.   The last thing on their mind has been cooperation with the employer to make the business more efficient - and survive in a shrinking market place.   Some union bosses actually celebrate when an employer goes under, citing that as some sort of victory.  It is a case of the union boss still drawing his pay packet - while those dismissed join the dole queue.

What is needed is a clearly defined space between unions - and politics.   The union movement is seen as little more than a branch of the Australian Labor party.  Paying union dues is compulsory, and many resent seeing their money handed out to a political party whose aims they do not support.   There would be more support for unions if they maintained an arm's length approach to politics and negotiated in good faith with all political points of view.

Then there is the sleaze factor.   Many of the rank and file seen union bosses as little more than a bunch of thugs, spending union funds as their personal piggy bank and using strong arm tactics on anyone that opposes their rule.   It is indeed a brave member who fails to raise his hand to approve strike action at a union meeting.    The consequences may be more than being " sent to Coventry ".    It may involve broken bones and an exit from that form of employment.

It has become a fact of life that many workers simply do not trust the unions - and have no intention of joining them - and that will not change until the union movement cleanses itself and ceases to be the lap dog of one side of politics.

It will only have a mandate to speak for the workers when it clearly has just one objective in mind - and that is to look after the interests of it's members.

Unfortunately, that is not how it is seen at present !