Union Cowardice

[Hondo]

I would have no hesitation to cross a picket line ... although I would hope that I could do so without bloodshed

Those on the picket line have a right to express their opinion and suggest or ask that one doesn't cross, but they should never have the unilateral right to physically stop anyone from entering their workplace.

I agree with you.

What I am talking about is the situation where (wrongly) the only solution was to drive your car through the picket line. Would you actually go to those lengths to enforce what I agree are your rights? ie, get in your car and drive into the group? Especially if the factory was shut down anyway and assuming your pay wasn't at any risk.

I am not talking about the principle of crossing a normal picket line to enter an operating workplace if it all involves is walking past people holding signs.

I don't condone that in this case the union people forced the situation that meant the car was the only option.

[Hondo]

Might have mortagage payments and needed a days pay, and if he was a temp he wouldn't have gotten paid if he didn't show up.

You yourself questioned if he was even an employee I thought? If not, he is paid by the company that provides the security services.

If we clearly had a factory worker in some beat up cheapie car trying to get into the normally operating factory then that's a bit different.

Let's assume he was a worker and the factory was shut down would walking into the premises have guaranteed him pay anyway?

I don't completely buy the story that we have a genuine employee genuinely trying to enter the premises just so he could do his job and get paid. It might be true, who knows. But I'm a sceptic.

[Bat Pad]

Might have mortagage payments and needed a days pay, and if he was a temp he wouldn't have gotten paid if he didn't show up.

You yourself questioned if he was even an employee I thought? If not, he is paid by the company that provides the security services.

If we clearly had a factory worker in some beat up cheapie car trying to get into the normally operating factory then that's a bit different.

Let's assume he was a worker and the factory was shut down would walking into the premises have guaranteed him pay anyway?

I don't completely buy the story that we have a genuine employee genuinely trying to enter the premises just so he could do his job and get paid. It might be true, who knows. But I'm a sceptic.

Yeah I did, I heard he was not a Baida employee but worked for a security company for whom Baida is a client. I am not 100% on that though. If he isn't employed by Baida, he would not have any reason to strike and therfore would have had no reason not to show up for work.


Why? Not sure what you are getting at there.

Yes, if you show up for work when requested you are guarenteed a minimum 3 hours pay.

That's fine, and it is a possibility, but there is as much evidence for that opinion (at the moment) than there is to say he was a plant from the NWU to get more coverage for the plight of the Baida workers.

[Hondo]

That's fine, and it is a possibility, but there is as much evidence for that opinion (at the moment) than there is to say he was a plant from the NWU to get more coverage for the plight of the Baida workers.

No, I am not suggesting that. That seems a bit of a stretch.

I think more likely he was under instruction from Baida management rather than acting on the drive of his personal principles. If so, he has taken actions that a normal worker wouldn't have and that placed him into a highly inflamed situation. A highly inflamed situation that was captured by the media whuch in turn lead to discussions like this thread. I think this may have been an intentional plan by Baida to generate bad publicity for the Union. Bad publicity which seems warranted in this case I agree but I ask was it a deliberate attempt by Baida to provoke a response and get it into the media?

As said several times - this is just my speculation.

[Gozu]

That's fine, and it is a possibility, but there is as much evidence for that opinion (at the moment) than there is to say he was a plant from the NWU to get more coverage for the plight of the Baida workers.

No, I am not suggesting that. That seems a bit of a stretch.

I think more likely he was under instruction from Baida management rather than acting on the drive of his personal principles. If so, he has taken actions that a normal worker wouldn't have and that placed him into a highly inflamed situation. A highly inflamed situation that was captured by the media whuch in turn lead to discussions like this thread. I think this may have been an intentional plan by Baida to generate bad publicity for the Union. Bad publicity which seems warranted in this case I agree but I ask was it a deliberate attempt by Baida to provoke a response and get it into the media?

As said several times - this is just my speculation.

Seems about on the money though. No normal employee tries to drive a car through people especially when in all likelihood they would be getting paid regardless.

[wycbloods]

Any employer has the right under all modern awards to not pay an employee if they can't be usefully employed because of any strike.

So there would have been no guarantee he would have recieved his minimum engagement for 'showing up to work'.

[Gozu]

Any employer has the right under all modern awards to not pay an employee if they can't be usefully employed because of any strike.

So there would have been no guarantee he would have recieved his minimum engagement for 'showing up to work'.

There is no way in hell they could get away with not paying him if to enter the worksite he had to drive through a group of people or risk being bashed.

He was getting paid regardless.

[Bat Pad]

That's fine, and it is a possibility, but there is as much evidence for that opinion (at the moment) than there is to say he was a plant from the NWU to get more coverage for the plight of the Baida workers.

No, I am not suggesting that. That seems a bit of a stretch.

I think more likely he was under instruction from Baida management rather than acting on the drive of his personal principles. If so, he has taken actions that a normal worker wouldn't have and that placed him into a highly inflamed situation. A highly inflamed situation that was captured by the media whuch in turn lead to discussions like this thread. I think this may have been an intentional plan by Baida to generate bad publicity for the Union. Bad publicity which seems warranted in this case I agree but I ask was it a deliberate attempt by Baida to provoke a response and get it into the media?

As said several times - this is just my speculation.

I understand that, and you may be correct. But there is no evidence for it as of yet

[Bat Pad]

Any employer has the right under all modern awards to not pay an employee if they can't be usefully employed because of any strike.

So there would have been no guarantee he would have recieved his minimum engagement for 'showing up to work'.

There is no way in hell they could get away with not paying him if to enter the worksite he had to drive through a group of people or risk being bashed.

He was getting paid regardless.

I don't agree he was getting paid regardless if he was working for an agency for which Baida was a client.

He may have been sent there to look after the place because of the strike

[wycbloods]

Any employer has the right under all modern awards to not pay an employee if they can't be usefully employed because of any strike.

So there would have been no guarantee he would have recieved his minimum engagement for 'showing up to work'.

There is no way in hell they could get away with not paying him if to enter the worksite he had to drive through a group of people or risk being bashed.

He was getting paid regardless.

I agree he was getting paid regardless but to be balanced i thought i would inform the forum that he wasn't guaranteed to be paid a minimum of 3 hours.

[wycbloods]

It seems that this dispute is coming to an end with workers agreeing to terms with the company earlier this morning.

[Dirko]

It seems that this dispute is coming to an end with workers agreeing to terms with the company earlier this morning.

They've agreed to get paid Chicken feed......

[wycbloods]

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/rare-victory-for-workers-whose-dignity-was-cut-to-the-bone-20111124-1nwwj.html

A good read.

[Jimmy_041]

Two months ago, Hua cut her finger to the bone when she was boning a chicken at work. Her friend Dao watched in horror as Hua tried to mask her pain and bandage the finger to keep it hidden, knowing the injury could deem her useless to her employer and get her sacked.

Why wasn't she wearing mesh gloves?

Safework SA would have a field day with this mob

[wycbloods]

Two months ago, Hua cut her finger to the bone when she was boning a chicken at work. Her friend Dao watched in horror as Hua tried to mask her pain and bandage the finger to keep it hidden, knowing the injury could deem her useless to her employer and get her sacked.

Why wasn't she wearing mesh gloves?

Safework SA would have a field day with this mob

Vic .

[redandblack]

The only important thing was that the Company's security guard should have been allowed to run them over for his right to get to work

Union cowardice