Ford Australia to shut its doors

[bozodos]

I could cite many cases of employers doing the same thing, especially trying to intimidate workers into not being unionised or joining the union that the boss was cosy with. If you were trying to break a strike or were a scab then sorry but I've got no sympathy for you.

I just get tired of people trying to have these opinions, yet they would be the first to start squawking if they were unfairly dismissed or were made redundant due to office politics, or were made to sign individual agreements. My union has a good relationship with management, and ironically it's usually me toning things down when I think the rep is trying to negotiate unfairly generous terms TO us.

[cashie]

The real question is:

Now how are we going to keep all the dickheads out of Holdens?

Do you really think this is the real question?
Reading this thread makes me wonder about the future of Australia and is position in the global manufacturing market, unions are certainly one of our factors that need to be measured moving forward. Having one of the highest paid work forces in the world isn't necessarily a good thing.

[cashie]

I could cite many cases of employers doing the same thing, especially trying to intimidate workers into not being unionised or joining the union that the boss was cosy with. If you were trying to break a strike or were a scab then sorry but I've got no sympathy for you.

I just get tired of people trying to have these opinions, yet they would be the first to start squawking if they were unfairly dismissed or were made redundant due to office politics, or were made to sign individual agreements. My union has a good relationship with management, and ironically it's usually me toning things down when I think the rep is trying to negotiate unfairly generous terms TO us.

Fortunately I have never needed any union to assist me seek what I felt I was worth or negotiate with my employer. Things would need to be dire when the day comes that I do.

And I really love unionists use of the word "scab", its a joke.

[v8dude78]

The simple truth is people weren't buying the product.
Any business that doesn't sell it products will go under. I'm quite surprised they lasted this long.

I know in my trade for every falcon that comes through the door there is at least 10 to 15 commodores and quadruple that number of imported cars. We have around 30 cars here now, there is a VE and EB falcon the rest are imported.

As has been said on here lots of times before people seem to get a kick out of bashing our local cars. Just now it has cost us thousands of jobs and part of our Aussie heritage

[Marco]

This is getting OT but I have no problem at all with unions doing what they were intended to do - ie get fair pay and conditions for vulnerable workers and look after safety. So if cleaners or whatever want to unionise for better wages, or miners call in their union when there is a safety problem, go for it.

I have a far greater problem when things get out of control with ridiculous demands on a business which can't afford it. In my line of work (Fed Govt), given that we can't increase our "prices" and we only get a bit of supplementation through the budget each year for higher wage costs, if pay rises get out of control it ends up costing jobs to make the bottom line add up. Putting aside whether you think there's too many Govt employees or not, last time around the Govt offered us a very fair 3% a year for 3 years; the union wanted 4, 4, and 5 in the third year. Now you guys have seen what the Federal Budget looks like; where was the money ever going to come from to pay 13%?!

[chunkyvy]

Unions have had there time, they should quietly go away and find another way to steal money from people.

I gracefully walked thru our picked line at work, mainly because what unions wanted would of shut our doors. Not one person tried to spit or carry on, And now 2 years on the noisy

troublemakers have unfortunately been made redundant.

No shock that they were the least skillfull and most useless people working with us..

[Hi Octane]

The doors have been shut for years just nobody bothered to tell Ford.

[Woodchukka]

Unions have had there time, they should quietly go away and find another way to steal money from people.

I gracefully walked thru our picked line at work, mainly because what unions wanted would of shut our doors. Not one person tried to spit or carry on, And now 2 years on the noisy

troublemakers have unfortunately been made redundant.

No shock that they were the least skillfull and most useless people working with us..

Take a look at history and you will see the cycle of who has the power in the union and business relationship depends on the health of the economy. It is all supply and demand really the invisible hand of the market. Unions have a place but need like everyone else need to move with the times to remain relevant or go the way of the Dodo like any business that does not move with the market. Take Ford Australia for example....... Thuggery is old school and may never die out (call it human nature) but it will become less acceptable to more and more people.

[jc_sv8]

Hard to believe that the head of the CFMEU lives in a $1.7M apartment, so much for the common man...

[mrtockley]

Hard to believe that the head of the CFMEU lives in a $1.7M apartment, so much for the common man...

Haha snap!

[bozodos]

Take a look at history and you will see the cycle of who has the power in the union and business relationship depends on the health of the economy. It is all supply and demand really the invisible hand of the market. Unions have a place but need like everyone else need to move with the times to remain relevant or go the way of the Dodo like any business that does not move with the market. Take Ford Australia for example....... Thuggery is old school and may never die out (call it human nature) but it will become less acceptable to more and more people.

I'd also say that the majority of the unions don't engage in thuggery and anti productive behavior - the examples mentioned are of the construction industry which has always been fraught. I can't find out anything about this '1.7m apartment', and you'd hardly expect the head of one of the biggest unions in the country to be earning a pittance (like any management position), try again

Business adjusting with the times is a big part of it yes, but I keep hearing people casting doubts on Holden already for ****s sake! It's not going to help things at all if the public perception is that the company is doomed already and that it's just a matter of time.

[jc_sv8]

Anyone that lives in Perth knows about the Raffles redevelopment, strange they had no unions problems when building and the boss gets the penthouse suit on the cheap.
http://www.crikey.com.au/2007/06/01/...n-high-places/

A pitance, no, but when the article mentions "striking a deal"

[Woodchukka]

I'd also say that the majority of the unions don't engage in thuggery and anti productive behavior - the examples mentioned are of the construction industry which has always been fraught. I can't find out anything about this '1.7m apartment', and you'd hardly expect the head of one of the biggest unions in the country to be earning a pittance (like any management position), try again

I would agree thuggery is conducted by the minority.

Business adjusting with the times is a big part of it yes, but I keep hearing people casting doubts on Holden already for ****s sake! It's not going to help things at all if the public perception is that the company is doomed already and that it's just a matter of time.

I suppose a bit of tall poppy syndrome there. Holden are not helping with some of the comments they are making though.

[bozodos]

jc: that article reads like there were a number of suss individuals connected with that development, and it's also noted that the Libs were strangely quiet about it as well. A nice story yes, but it all reads like editorial conjecture rather than completely factual.

[VRIIClubby]

I could cite many cases of employers doing the same thing, especially trying to intimidate workers into not being unionised or joining the union that the boss was cosy with.

This one line is proof of the Unionist BS that is propagated to the masses hoping for a blind faith.. lets get this straight

It is OK for you (Union) to go bang on ANY workplaces door, DEMAND entry and then (in your words) you would "educate" the workers on their rights (the internet) and tell them their boss / the company / aliens are out to rip them off, if they arent covered by the union these scallywags ( the fukrs that put food on your table) wil come and steal your bedsheets whilst your sleeping.

But, it is inexcusible for a Boss, Manager, Company to tell their workers the SAME (more thruthful of the two) shit that you sprout but against you? rofl.

Ok for you to do, but not for them to return the favour? Moronic.

Teachers are threatened @ Uni, and then upon placement at a school if they DO NOT sign up to the Union then a student WILL put a case against them for nothing and the Union wont be able to asisst, and then, if that does happen, there is no recourse and you WILL loose your job, then when you dont attend a "strike" you are demonised, bullyed and harrassed by other members for not attending?
I have about 60+ other great little factualstories like that one, not just that Union, the PSU, the CFMEU et c etc the list goes on. it is the whole Union movement, there IS NOT a good one.