The grumpy thread

[whitevanman]

While I would never degrade or knock the point of unions, I can honeslty say that from my experiences with them as a shop steward a good few years ago were nothing but negative. they apear to be exactly what they say the hate and fight against, money grabbing power mongers, give us what we want or else.......

 

so as individuals we have to make economies in our household budgets, why do unions and there bosses feel that they are entitled to a rise when the rest of us are not getting one, oh and if you dont we will ballot our members and even if only a few reply we can call a strike at the time thats most akward for the "people" that use the service........good way to get the public on your side then!!!!

 

oh and the union chiefs are on money most of us can only dream about earning.....and loose nothing if their members go on strike...what was the old saying

 

With the people, for the people............AYE RIGHT.....

[dieselnutjob]

I have one problem with unions: Ed Miliband.

Not very democratic, and if he ever gets into power we will basically have the country run by the unions.

I'm not in a union so it'll be bad for me.

Also, the left are so fond on unions who are supposed to represent working people, in fact the word "labour" means to work.

So why did they give so much money to people who don't work?

[Lord Sterling]

  watanabe said:

...Trying to get a part time job.

 

Everywhere I've called is utterly useless at getting back in touch, full of crap or talk up the most demeaning position as the hardest thing in the world and want the moon on a stick for fuck all money...

 

This is exactly what I've been saying. Everytime I go to the 'JobCentre' there are rolls and rolls of jobs, but a huge amount of them demand that you MUST have XX years experience with a proven track record in a job that ended within the last few months blah blah blah.....

 

Its an employers market, because so many people have lost thier jobs and so many will be losing thier jobs, employers can cherry pick the best.

 

Having said that, I recently bagged an interview with a pretty good position and fair pay, I was told by the lady why I didnt get the job and that I had only lost out to someone who had a computer degree, fair enough, at least the company who interviewed me bothered to actually phone me up and tell me why I didnt get the job.

 

I once applied to Halfucks, a few weeks later I got a Dear John, you didnt get the job type letter with no real explanation as why I didnt get the position, it was so vague. Again, we have grunting 18-year old fucks working there, how the hell they got a job there and I didnt I'll never understand.

[Cavcraft]

Ah, but when it comes to making a point when is the best time to go on strike if what you do effects others? If train drivers or airport workers (for example) went on strike between 01.00 and 02.30 on a Tuesday morning hardly anyone would notice and the bosses would barely notice such a short drop in incomings. It's not nice for anyone (and remember anyone on strike isn't getting paid) but it's probably most effective.

 

If 'they' ask for a rise you can bet your last quid it's because the gaffers of companies aren't shy at awarding themselves huge rises and at telling the workers there isn't enough in the kitty to do the same for them.

I voted for E.B in the leadership campaign and I honestly don't believe he will be run by the unions or be stupid enough to have people striking over daft causes.

 

Dolly: in the seventies I'd have agreed with you but things are different now, as I said in an earlier post no-one in their right mind would strike for petty reasons these days and I can assure you if you saw what some people want to call action for and the union themselves stopped them you'd be amazed.

 

Anyhow although this is the grumpy thread I shall bow out of this debate now, sorry for the rants.

[whitevanman]

/\ I totally agree with you on ridiclious rises for bosses...I never did that as a boss and owner, just wouldn't be right.

I think I'll join you in backing out of further comments on this topic at this time..

[M'coli]

Went to take the Cavalier for its re-test this afternoon to find that the front right indicator isn't working - checke d the bulb, no joy, out with the multimeter, no current to the live - I'd hit the loom with the angle grinder whilst sorting the hole in the inner wing. Bumhats.

[Cavcraft]

F1. It's neither a 'sport' nor remotely interesting. As much as people complain about others banging on about football, I don't want to sit in a room with three others getting excited by one driver almost overtaking another.

[Mr Lobster]

Fair enough Cavette. But I think F1 is (most of the time) great and find football utterly shit. But it'd be a dull place if we all liked the same stuff wouldn't it

 

The difference (to me at least) is that if you don't have any passing interest in football its almost considered to be strange.

[dollywobbler]

I've watched most of the F1 season on the highlights programme on the web. 10 minutes of action! Sadly, that's about all there is in F1 these days.

 

Far, far better is to watch ITV4 when the BTCC is on. Not only do you get some panel-bashing action in that, but the other races tend to be excellent too. The Ginetta Juniors are absolutely incredible. One of the drivers is only 14. Great watching a 16 year old schoolgirl whipping a similarly aged boy's arse - and all in a totally non-dodgy manner!

[trigger]

  dollywobbler said:

I've watched most of the F1 season on the highlights programme on the web. 10 minutes of action! Sadly, that's about all there is in F1 these days.

 

Far, far better is to watch ITV4 when the BTCC is on. Not only do you get some panel-bashing action in that, but the other races tend to be excellent too. The Ginetta Juniors are absolutely incredible. One of the drivers is only 14. Great watching a 16 year old schoolgirl whipping a similarly aged boy's arse - and all in a totally non-dodgy manner!

 

 

Just noticed that this was the 10000th reply on this thread! we are a right bunch of moaning barstards aren't we!

[Spiny Norman]

I've watched F1 since the days of Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi and I still watch it. It might not be to everyone's tastes but my Sunday afternoons would be poorer without them, although I do agree that the BTCC coverage on ITV4 offers far more bang for your buck, as does the MotoGP on Beeb2.

[retrogeezer]

Yeh, even though I know it's going to be a procession and daft steward decisions alter results I am still a big fan of F1..

 

But the sunday afternoon BTCC coverage on ITV4 is fanbloodytastic..

[Station]

  whitevanman said:

While I would never degrade or knock the point of unions, I can honeslty say that from my experiences with them as a shop steward a good few years ago were nothing but negative. they apear to be exactly what they say the hate and fight against, money grabbing power mongers, give us what we want or else.......

 

The head of Unison is on £120,000!! Never seen the point of unions in my line of work, but it just seems like a load of ex-BNP bullyboys in it for themselves. A bloke I worked with was a 'messenger' for Unison, and the amount of rubbish he used to bring back was astounding. Like H&S, a complete waste of time. If you're scared of work, stay at home.

[barrett]

  trigger said:

Just noticed that this was the 10000th reply on this thread! we are a right bunch of moaning barstards aren't we!

 

 

"Most active topic: The "Grumpy Old Man/Pedant" Post feel free to add!

(108 Posts / 7.27% of your posts) "

[Guest]

I was made about £1500 a year worse off because of the union's demand to bring in Single Status Job Evaluation, even though I'm not in the union (if I was it would have made no difference, as it was the union who wanted it to happen). Despite being required to understand reams of speciality legislation and computer systems, not to mention take a load of abuse off the public, my pay was cut to the same level as a secondary school toilet attendant. I know a woman who has lost just under £4K and faces a new pay packet of about £13K when the "protection" ends, leaving her with absolutely no possibility of being able to pay her mortgage. Even before all that I was one of the lowest paid in the building, so when the union goes on about protecting people on low pay they can cram it as far as I'm concerned.

 

As a result, I never intend to be in a union and I will break all forthcoming strikes to boot. I'm looking after number one, everyone else can sod off.

[scaryoldcortina]

  chumbawamba said:

The councilor comes with his battered old suit

And his head all filled with plans

Says "It's not for myself, for the fame or wealth

But to help my fellow man."

Fist in the air and the first to stand

When the Internationale plays

Says "We'll break down the walls of the old Town Hall

And we'll fight all the lifelong day!"

Ten years later where is he now?

He's ditched all the old ideas

Milked all the life from the old cash cow

Now he's got a fine career

Now he's got a fine career.

 

Turned out nice again....

[Cavcraft]

  Mr Lobster said:

Fair enough Cavette. But I think F1 is (most of the time) great and find football utterly shit. But it'd be a dull place if we all liked the same stuff wouldn't it

 

The difference (to me at least) is that if you don't have any passing interest in football its almost considered to be strange.

 

I'll agree to that chief, each to their own and all that. I love football but don't 'get' people who think it's strange that others don't like it.

 

BTCC is class, been a couple of times to see it at Oulton and the whole show (including other racing on the day) is fantastic.

[155V6]

BTCC finishes on Sunday,there's 4 drivers that can still win it,so should be a good one

[dieselnutjob]

  Cavette said:

Anyhow although this is the grumpy thread I shall bow out of this debate now.

 

Actually my fault for starting it.

There should probably be a separate religion&politics thread for this stuff

[warren t claim]

  Pete-M said:

 

Good mate of mine is a train driver and a union rep for the train drivers. Now, he's earning well over £30k a year and he's always on holiday or having a few days off, yet he thinks he's hard done by and should have a wage rise every year without exception and more holidays. He also spends all his time complaining about "The rich" and how "People who earn lots of money should be taxed heavily" and how it's out of order that he's not getting a wage rise.

 

I have tried to point out to him that he's a single bloke with no kids who lives in a small flat and spends bugger all of the money he gets, and that I have to work rather a lot more hours for less money, and that the stuff I drive doesn't steer itself. I don't get 9 months off on full pay if someone chucks themselves in front of my car either.

 

If it's Miseryrail he's working for I think you'll find it's only six months off fo a jumper and the rest of your life off on full pay if it's your third. There are several drivers on their second jumper wising for another... You don't have to kill them-just knock them.

 

Anyway, a mate of mine used to work at the TR7 factory in Speke and he was telling me a few tales. His interview consisted of one question, will you join the union? He said yes and got the job. A few weeks later he turned up for work to dicover that instead of the two other people working in his team there were now five. He questioned the union rep as to why BL had taken on more staff and was dragged to one side, kneed in the bollocks and told in no uncertain terms that they had ALWAYS worked there without a day off! Apparently the factory was being audited that day.

 

In all fairness a friends dad is a union official for the Fire Brigade and he's a top bloke who just wants to see his mates treated with respect but my lasting memory of trade unions is the image of a Mk4 Cotina taxi with a lump of concrete through it's windscreen during the miners strike.

[chaseracer]

  Station said:

Never seen the point of unions in my line of work, but it just seems like a load of ex-BNP bullyboys in it for themselves.

Maybe I'm being over-sensitive here, but as a full-time elected union officer who works far too hard for not much money I find that characterisation FUCKING OFFENSIVE.

 

That is all.

[ashmicro]

  Quote

 

 

We're all friends here. If we want it to stay that way, may I respectfully suggest that a Religion & Politics thread may not be a good idea.

[dieselnutjob]

Yeah maybe.

I was/am a moderator on the tdiclub forums for years and they had to basically totally ban politics / religion.

But most of the them are Americans

I think if the country was run by British (I mean as in live here not as in BNP ) car nuts then probably it would be a fantastic place.

Everytime an argument got too heated we would just have a pint and go and look at a Hillman Avenger or something.

[chaseracer]

  dieselnutjob said:

Yeah maybe... Everytime an argument got too heated we would just have a pint and go and look at a Hillman Avenger or something.

I am very calm.

 

 

[brammy777]

My mum currently needs a supervisor in the shop, as they quit AGAIN. So the last three have left for the following reasons;

-Needed to sort their life out, and they were expecting a baby.

-Stole from every shop they worked in.

-Family issues.

And everyone who has applied so far has stated they cant work weekends and/or early mornings. Wise up you lemons, thats two of the essential criteria for the job, you cant just edit it for your own good. Why cant people just take a job which requires no qualifications happily? Pretty sure the company is breaking the law by making my mum work like 80 odd hours without a day off every week too.

[chaseracer]

  brammy777 said:

Pretty sure the company is breaking the law by making my mum work like 80 odd hours without a day off every week too.

Mmm-hmm.

 

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1373

 

http://www.usdaw.org.uk/

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I cant see why anyone has a problem with unions. As an employee in a union, its not like you get some sort of super power that you can abuse to bring down your company, you have no new additional rights do you. OK you get some wankers in union rep positions but then again you get plenty of wankers in positions of management and so on. Any company that is fearful of unions has something to hide or a guilty conscience I reckon.

 

When Michael Edwardes was running BL, twice the unions almost brought the company to its knees, and both times he balloted the workforce directly and on both occatsions the results went his way rather than the union's way. The workforce knew which was the 'right' way to vote. The problem was not the workers being able to join a union - just gobshites in the union rep positions.

[eddyramrod]

  chaseracer said:

  dieselnutjob said:

Yeah maybe... Everytime an argument got too heated we would just have a pint and go and look at a Hillman Avenger or something.

I am very calm.

 

 

 

My mate Kenny had one that colour, I got him a pair of doors for the driver's side when he mashed his on the gatepost...

[dollywobbler]

  Mr_Bo11ox said:

I cant see why anyone has a problem with unions. As an employee in a union, its not like you get some sort of super power that you can abuse to bring down your company, you have no new additional rights do you. OK you get some wankers in union rep positions but then again you get plenty of wankers in positions of management and so on. Any company that is fearful of unions has something to hide or a guilty conscience I reckon.

 

When Michael Edwardes was running BL, twice the unions almost brought the company to its knees, and both times he balloted the workforce directly and on both occatsions the results went his way rather than the union's way. The workforce knew which was the 'right' way to vote. The problem was not the workers being able to join a union - just gobshites in the union rep positions.

 

I guess my views are tainted by the fact that I once worked with a union rep. He only seemed to be one because he loved sticking is oar in, feeling all powerful. Didn't stop me reporting him to our manager because he was sat there on the internet while I was trying to give external visitors a briefing - AND he tried muscling into some discussions I was having with the management about my own circumstances, which I sorted out for myself. He was a work shy cock (it wasn't just that once incident). Did get some pleasure dobbing him in - gave him a chance to feel some people power in action... He left me alone after that, but doing so after I'd said 'no, it's fine' would have been better!

[warren t claim]

RIP Norman Wisdom. Even well into his 80's he drove a Nissan 200sx.