Re: Alstom for Hillside/Yarra tram [Melbourne Aust]

["Kosh Naranek" <richardcremovethis@tpg.com.au>]

Vaughan Williams <ender2000@my-deja.com> wrote in message
8gftgu$oi4$1@nnrp1.deja.com">news:8gftgu$oi4$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
snipped
> The fragmentation has no good points. A system that used to be run for
> the convenience of the bureaucracy and unions is now run principally
> for the convenience of the private operator and to a lesser extent for
> the convenience of the unions still. The travelling public doesn't get
> a look-in
>
> Vaughan
It is a well known theory of labour economics that the power of a union is
proportional to the power of the firms in the industry. The company town is
a classic case - it is optimal in economic terms to have a strong firm and
strong union - neither can dominate the other. The evil Kennett and his
consultants knew that it would be harder to achieve a strong union if the
firms were weaker.

But in transport the unions have had their way for too long. What have they
done? Where are all the jobs now? Where are the guards, the station
assistants, the second persons (fireman etc etc) gone like the dinosaurs and
dodos. Did unions delay their demise of these jobs or did they hasten it?

Looking forward to the flames...