Posted: Apr 15, 2012 4:35 pm
GTFO! 
I have never been a member of any union - I understand they are fantastic, but my particular racket is not really unionised, and the employee/employer balance of power is quite equitable in any case. I enjoy the same statutory protections as anyone else, mainly thanks to the historic efforts of unions, the wider labour movement and party, and the EU so I hear. If I wanted the extra leverage that union representation would bring to me as an individual, and the union has decided to support labour, then I either go along with that (for the sake of £3, and I'd still have a fucking opt-out, anyway!) or not join.
Anything else is just hypocrisy, surely. If someone doesn't like how unions are all union-y, then they probably shouldn't join one. Even if they do join one for wholly selfish reasons, as a union member they remain free to vote for, and donate to, parties set on the denigration and destruction of their work environment if they wish. Most people can understand how that is a bit self-defeating, though.
I have never been a member of any union - I understand they are fantastic, but my particular racket is not really unionised, and the employee/employer balance of power is quite equitable in any case. I enjoy the same statutory protections as anyone else, mainly thanks to the historic efforts of unions, the wider labour movement and party, and the EU so I hear. If I wanted the extra leverage that union representation would bring to me as an individual, and the union has decided to support labour, then I either go along with that (for the sake of £3, and I'd still have a fucking opt-out, anyway!) or not join.
Anything else is just hypocrisy, surely. If someone doesn't like how unions are all union-y, then they probably shouldn't join one. Even if they do join one for wholly selfish reasons, as a union member they remain free to vote for, and donate to, parties set on the denigration and destruction of their work environment if they wish. Most people can understand how that is a bit self-defeating, though.