Union member sacked by Total..

ohreally

Snakeeyes21 wrote: »

since when has it been up to unions to dictate how a company is run,

The concept is generally to be found in partnership working which would be discussed and agreed during the process of recognition.

Do you suggest we return to the times of sending children up chimneys - a practice abolished through lobbying by trade unions.

Pssst

-BA- wrote: »

http://www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/unions_main.cfm

Read that list and don't be so damned ignorant. There are unions for pretty much every sector of employment out there. People who are posting in opposition to the OP are posting because the strike was unofficial and therefore not even backed by the union. This means (in case you can't work that one out) that the union were therefore in no position to defend them. There are rules to follow, they didn't follow them, they got the boot.

did you miss the first line where i said "leaving aside the Total dispute.." ?

The reason why is becuase i appreciate that there are issues surrounding the legality of the dispute.

I am aware that there are TUs covering pretty much every sector of the workforce.

I am also aware of "white collar" types who are not TU members simply becuase they have not felt the heat of encroaching oppression from management and therefore think it is nothing to do with them.

Pssst

nexuss wrote: »

The italian and portuguese workers are just as skilled if not more skilled than their british counterparts.Also the sub-contracting company that employs them were able to offer them at a great rate as british workers were asking for way too much money.

Thinking about your sphere of employment,assuming you are employed, do you think you are paid too much for your job and if so,would you be receptive to some Eastern block competition coming to the market?

Any

Pssst wrote: »

Thinking about your sphere of employment,assuming you are employed, do you think you are paid too much for your job and if so,would you be receptive to some Eastern block competition coming to the market?

From my own experience foreign workers (and yes, I am one of them - one of those working in nice office actually) are paid the same money as English people are.

Also realise that with exchange rate as it is they cannot really afford to work for that much less as it would not be worth it otherwise.

Pssst

Any wrote: »

From my own experience foreign workers (and yes, I am one of them - one of those working in nice office actually) are paid the same money as English people are.

Also realise that with exchange rate as it is they cannot really afford to work for that much less as it would not be worth it otherwise.

Indeed..that can often be the case also. I guess it depends what job you do. It tends to be the blue collar workers who get shafted a lot of the time be it those involved in skilled trades or those in the hospitality/retail sector.

When was the last time we read in the DM about a load of quantity surveyors/lawyers/teachers from Latvia " coming over here,pinching our jobs" but we DO read of polish plumbers etc etc. Thats becuase its ok to predate the toolbag classes but not the pen pushing classes.

Indeed the pen pushing classes do not worry about such predation becuase they think they can always save money when they need work doing around the house and of course it is well known that all British tradesmen are from hell and will rip you off, whilst all eastern block workmen are highly skilled and hard working.

Any

Pssst wrote: »

Indeed..that can often be the case also. I guess it depends what job you do. It tends to be the blue collar workers who get shafted a lot of the time be it those involved in skilled trades or those in the hospitality/retail sector.

When was the last time we read in the DM about a load of quantity surveyors/lawyers/teachers from Latvia " coming over here,pinching our jobs" but we DO read of polish plumbers etc etc. Thats becuase its ok to predate the toolbag classes but not the pen pushing classes.

Indeed the pen pushing classes do not worry about such predation becuase they think they can always save money when they need work doing around the house and of course it is well known that all British tradesmen are from hell and will rip you off, whilst all eastern block workmen are highly skilled and hard working.

The thing is that when we can buy cheaper product - which is cheaper only because there is competition in the market - we don't moan. We like competition in the market, because if it's not there the sole supplier can take us for a ride. I don't know why is it so surprising that there is also such a competition in the job market.
When I hire a builder, I don't care where he is from - all I care about is price versus quality of work (recommendation, visit to past customer..)

Pssst

Any wrote: »

The thing is that when we can buy cheaper product - which is cheaper only because there is competition in the market - we don't moan. We like competition in the market, because if it's not there the sole supplier can take us for a ride. I don't know why is it so surprising that there is also such a competition in the job market.
When I hire a builder, I don't care where he is from - all I care about is price versus quality of work (recommendation, visit to past customer..)

Indeed..we all like VFM but the question still remains...why do we not read about Eastern block "professionals" coming here "taking our jobs" etc.

I have friends in the skilled trades and i have interactions with them and their potential customers.

I'd say the majority of them just buy on price i.e whoever quotes cheapest or toward the cheaper end,get the job.

Many of my associates can spout anecdotal evidence about going to quote and being told in their face.."Well Bert Bodgitt from anytown quoted x.y.z.lower price". Many of my colleagues adopt the.."well get him to do it then approach" even if it means loss of income. They can quote instances of said customer coming back to them and asking them to do it and sometimes they refuse on principle if they have something else on.

Contrast this with Ms Philomena penpusher. try and undercut her and she will turn puice .

I once had a female estate agent round here and when i had the timerity to discuss the basis of contract i.e sole seller/sole agency,comparing prices with other agents,she became very sniffy and we fell out so i showed her the door.

Whats sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander IMHO.

Any

Pssst wrote: »

Indeed..we all like VFM but the question still remains...why do we not read about Eastern block "professionals" coming here "taking our jobs" etc.

I think that is because it's usually not the English professionals who are moaning as they can use their brains to deal with competition.

I believe it's mainly uneducated English folk who spent many years being spoiled by unions and they believe/they were brought up being told that they own their job and it belongs to them no matter what happens and what they do.

Unofficial strike? Give me a break. What did they expect?

SomeBozo

As part of the tender process for the running the plant, the use of European Wide labour was included.

The tender went to public consultation.

Instead of walking out of work, the workes anger should be directed at the person that wrote, accepted and ran the tender process.

Bozo

-BA-

Pssst wrote: »

did you miss the first line where i said "leaving aside the Total dispute.." ?

The reason why is becuase i appreciate that there are issues surrounding the legality of the dispute.

I am aware that there are TUs covering pretty much every sector of the workforce.

I am also aware of "white collar" types who are not TU members simply becuase they have not felt the heat of encroaching oppression from management and therefore think it is nothing to do with them.

Well if you are going to make such sweeping generalisations as "white collar" (that incidentally covers pretty much every civil service worker - that's quite a few) then I will retort that this board is full of office worker individuals seeking support and guidance on similar situations of management oppression, many of whom are not in a union. To say "they" don't understand is just nonsense. Your post (if off topic) was designed to bait these "white collar" types and I therefore see of no real relevance to the thread.