tellyontellyon
17th January 2010, 16:48
I was standing on a picket line the other day with some comrades. We were supporting some striking railworkers and trying to build some links with them.
They were quite angry though. Seven of their colleagues were scabs.
I find it quite annoying that many people join a union only with the thought of what the union could do for them if they have a problem at work. If they do have a problem, calling the union is no different from calling 'injurylawyers4you'... there seems to be little sense of a unions being about workers standing together to support each other... little sense that joining a union is a commitment and responsibility to support fellow workers beyond paying their subscription.
The sad fact is that many rank and file union members, and even more sadly, union officials, lack even trade union consciousness... never mind anything higher.
:cursing:
What is your perspective on this? How bad is it? Are things getting better/worse?
They were quite angry though. Seven of their colleagues were scabs.
I find it quite annoying that many people join a union only with the thought of what the union could do for them if they have a problem at work. If they do have a problem, calling the union is no different from calling 'injurylawyers4you'... there seems to be little sense of a unions being about workers standing together to support each other... little sense that joining a union is a commitment and responsibility to support fellow workers beyond paying their subscription.
The sad fact is that many rank and file union members, and even more sadly, union officials, lack even trade union consciousness... never mind anything higher.
:cursing:
What is your perspective on this? How bad is it? Are things getting better/worse?