tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post5486909820707271308..comments2023-10-07T22:37:49.244+13:00Comments on The Hand Mirror: Now you've come to the hardest timekatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-17144093124288465492012-03-17T11:32:13.870+13:002012-03-17T11:32:13.870+13:00Maia. Just because someone has a different perspec...Maia. Just because someone has a different perspective to you, doesn't mean that they want to "bash workers". I am so grateful to port workers for what they do.<br /><br />There are a group of people who think that unions don't necessarily operate in the best interests of the workers' they claim to represent. You seem to be under the impression that invariably, union= good. Unfortunately, many people's experiences do not support this contention.<br /><br />Example - many moons ago, my Dad trained as a fitter and turner and the union which he was obliged to join actually tried to stop him from pursuing further training & attending Polytech. They did not have his best interests at heart at all.<br /><br />If you have had fixed hours and wages & the security which a fixed employment agreement brings, I can understand that you would be disgruntled to have this taken away from you. The problem is that theunions trying to maintain the status quo are actually doing the workers a disfavour.<br /><br />The point that people seem to be missing is that NO job is really "secure", regardless of employment law protections being in place. This point has become particularly salient in the midst of an economic recession. <br /><br />In order to employ people, a business actually has to turn a profit and remain competitive. So-called "casualisation" actually means that employers can improve productivity, keep their hiring costs down, and improve the chances of the business prospering - thus ensuring that workers will actually have jobs in the long run.<br /><br />This isn't about bashing workers at all.Brandy Alexandernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-76031202309535160562012-03-11T11:47:15.880+13:002012-03-11T11:47:15.880+13:00If the unions are using bully tactics, threats of ...If the unions are using bully tactics, threats of violence, screaming out "filth and scum" to people who wont join the union, they need to be called up on it.Brett Dalehttp://mediasportandotherrantings.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-91215632165541107142012-03-09T23:37:17.449+13:002012-03-09T23:37:17.449+13:00So the best the right has got to bash port workers...So the best the right has got to bash port workers with is they've got a ping-pong table and can check facebook - why would they need fixed hours? <br /><br />I'm not accepting any more port workers bashing bullshit comments on this post. I'm a 'what side are you' on kind of a woman - and this is crunch time.Maiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17212711843307060731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-23932312067950735152012-03-09T20:50:12.563+13:002012-03-09T20:50:12.563+13:00Meanwhile Whaleoil has actually gone down to the p...Meanwhile Whaleoil has actually gone down to the port and talked to the workers there...and the verdict is good riddance to the selfish,greedy union parasites.<br /><br />http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2012/03/down-at-the-port/Beerbaronnoreply@blogger.com