Reply to: A French lesson in negotiating a redundancy package

[Archangel]

When I worked as an apprentice draughftsman in the late 70's the union decided on a 3 day week. I was on day release at college on a monday, worked on tuesday and wednesday, and then was forced to take thursday and friday off (despite apprentices supposed being excluded from strike action, we were told in no uncertain terms what would happen if we crossed the picket line). So from my £45 a week wages, £18 was deducted. After three months the strike was called off, but no pay rise was given, so I'd lost the dosh for nowt. Put me of unions for life.

[Sysman]

Indeed, not the excessive nonesense that many of us are subjected to, but basic stuff. Safety clothing and boots in factories, flameless lights in mines, safety inspectors, medical provision and many other factors.

Going back to a student job I had in a woollen mill, the older end told tales of machinery driven by unguarded belts and mechanics working inside running machinery. Limbs were lost, and when one of those belts snapped, lives too. Health and safety certainly wasn't the nonsense it can be nowadays.

Unions also forced many industries to pay living wages (in cash rather than company tokens) where previously many people were little more than indentured serfs.

I have been watching the Wainwright's Walks programme on BBC4 (Helvellyn tonight at 20:00 UK time), and in the episode on Castle Crag learnt that the slate quarry workers earned something like 12.5 pence a day in today's money.

Castle Crag walk, a version unencumbered by the commercialisation surrounding the Beeb series.

[Menelaus]

Such as???

Unions are parasitic snakes of the worst kind.

I'm sure that unions have a role to play: all members clubs do.

Think of it this way - in what way do unions and masons differ? Admittedly, one is more likely to contain police officers and football referees.

[Menelaus]

And then allowed them to be extradited to the USA.

With precisely feck all in the way of evidence.

[expat]

My parents, even as long term Conservative voters, came to that conclusion in the mid-1980s. They were old enough to remember some of the good things that unions had done before the madness set in, and thought Thatcher had gone too far.

So did former Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan.

[centurian]

Health and safety for starters.

Thus giving them the correct training in how to safely explode gas canisters...

[Mich the Tester]

And then allowed them to be extradited to the USA.

so the yanks could waterboard them.

[TykeMerc]

Health and safety for starters.

Indeed, not the excessive nonesense that many of us are subjected to, but basic stuff. Safety clothing and boots in factories, flameless lights in mines, safety inspectors, medical provision and many other factors.

Unions also forced many industries to pay living wages (in cash rather than company tokens) where previously many people were little more than indentured serfs.

[Sysman]

Such as???

Unions are parasitic snakes of the worst kind.

Health and safety for starters.

[RichardCranium]

Unions are parasitic snakes of the worst kind.

Remind me, I forget. What are the best kinds of parasitic snake?

[KentPhilip]

My parents, even as long term Conservative voters, came to that conclusion in the mid-1980s. They were old enough to remember some of the good things that unions had done before the madness set in, and thought Thatcher had gone too far.

Such as???

Unions are parasitic snakes of the worst kind.

[Sysman]

Indeed, while the Unions were barking mad and vastly too powerful the Thatcher effect swung the pendulum to an equal extreme in the other direction.

My parents, even as long term Conservative voters, came to that conclusion in the mid-1980s. They were old enough to remember some of the good things that unions had done before the madness set in, and thought Thatcher had gone too far.

[RichardCranium]

We would have banged them up for 28 days under terrorism laws.

After the 42 days for questioning.

And then allowed them to be extradited to the USA.

[TykeMerc]

Bloody right too. That stupid witch Thatcher is to blame for weak and ineffective unions in this country allowing boardroom fat cats to continue taking the p155 with their own packages and screwing the workforce and their communities for their own personal gain.

Indeed, while the Unions were barking mad and vastly too powerful the Thatcher effect swung the pendulum to an equal extreme in the other direction.

[Alf W]

Bloody right too. That stupid witch Thatcher is to blame for weak and ineffective unions in this country allowing boardroom fat cats to continue taking the p155 with their own packages and screwing the workforce and their communities for their own personal gain.