Re: Unions don't know what's good for them

Translib Pty. Ltd. (translib@netspace.net.au)
Mon, 28 Jul 1997 10:38:17 -0700

Stuart Thyer wrote:
>
> In article <33DB8FD9.22E0@netspace.net.au>, translib@netspace.net.au wrote:
>
> :
> >
>
> > I would thought to ensure a better future for you and your colleagues,
> > is to promote the use of public transport to the general public. I am
> > yet to see any action taken by your union(s) for such promotion. It is
> > obvious that you have never run a business of your own. Then you will
> > know the importance of holding on to your long term customers, while
> > attracting new ones.
> >
> I would have thought that it was the operators responsibility to promote
> its services to the general public, ie the government.
> I've seen this type of commment a couple of times now, anyone would think
> it was the union that is responsible for the running (or running down) of
> the public transport system. But who is meant to be running the system??
> That's right, the government. So why is the system gradually running
> backwards, falling apart under rushed privatisation plans & losing many
> senior staff who are leaving early rather than lose all their super
> through 'workplace reforms'
>
> It's funny you say that the union members obviously have no business
> skills of their own, when it is the gov't that is running the business,(
> more like selling off the family jewels). Perhaps a radical plan would be
> for the gov't to actually give over control of the public transport system
> to the union.

"... give over control of the public transport system to the union." I
like to see that! Consider their demand for a 10% pay rise while the
current inflation is only 0.3%, just imagine the salary expenses vs.
revenue generated (let's forget about other operating costs). Then
again, it is probably not a bad idea to give the union an opportunity to
see whether they can run the public transport any better!

> look at the advantages
> -no more strikes (you don't go out against yourself)

Excellent idea!!

> -a genuine vested interest in making the system work( the more efficent
> the system, the more you can employ)

The more staff you employ does not mean more efficient system! Remember
the old days when the former Metropolitan Transit Authority (M.T.A.) had
cleaning staff for long and short handle brooms!! Nowadays, workers
have to be multi-skilled, not just in the transport industry.

> -we currently let politicans (failed businessmen mostly) run a large
> company, can the union do it worse??

Can the union do it better??

> -It saves flogging it off to private enterprise, whose bottom line is
> profit, not service (at least the unions have a social conscience)

Social conscience? How about the strikes and stop work meetings??

> -and they could scrap the stupid & incompetent auto ticketing system .
> Imagine if the company building transponders for city link tollway
> collection was 2 years late in implementing the system, city link would
> kick their arse thruogh every court in the land, squeeze mony from them
> for failing to deliver & get someone to do the job properly. But not our
> dear government, just let them go, after all, it's "only" public
> transport.
>
> But for F^*% sake, stop blaming the unions for the state of the system,
> when it is the gov't who is in the drivers seat (only metaphorically
> speaking, thank god)
>
> Disclaimer: I'm not a member of the PTU or for that matter the PTUA, but
> think that either of them could do a better job than what's being done
> now.
>
> --
> Stuart Thyer Suzuki Gs1000s
> Photographer University of Melbourne
> DoD No-1724
> One time winner of the 'imaginary chocolate frog of discretion'
> _____________