thesaint99:
Someone above mentioned URTU. Is anyone on here a member or has anyone ever had any dealings with them? I’ve seen them mentioned before, have they much clout compared to the other unions and so they have a large number of members?
What ‘sixties boy’ says is right.
They are only strong BECAUSE of the amount of individual members that go to make up the union…The word ‘union’ in the context of ‘Trade Union’ to some is a dirty word, but all it literally means is a gathering together of employees 
…mainly formed to look after their own interests, especially if a draconian management system is in place…(as per road haulage. 
)
You can sure as hell bet that those workers who belong to that Union, would not be as well off financially, or have as good terms and conditions as they now have, if there was little or no Union in that industry…(again as per the road haulage industry.)
The problems arise only when the union dwindles or if they get too powerful and it goes to the higher echelons of the Union’s heads,.and they start to think they can hold the country to ransom at the drop of a hat.
I don’t agree nor subscribe to that, all I would want is for this job to be brought up to Century 21 standards in terms of hours and pay, if that means holding the country to ransom the once, then so be it…It WOULD work whatever anybody says…, look at the 1998 fuel protests for proof.
Cheers for the info everyone, i’ll have a look!
The fuel protests was the farmers and some owner drivers, none of the unions were involved (possibly due to laws restricting 2nd picketing) and none of the large transport companies were involved (yes some drivers would not cross farmers blockade). At the time I worked for one of the big boys and they were drafting plans to run fuel in on tankers from Europe and Ireland.
Sixties boy:
The fuel protests was the farmers and some owner drivers, none of the unions were involved (possibly due to laws restricting 2nd picketing) and none of the large transport companies were involved (yes some drivers would not cross farmers blockade). At the time I worked for one of the big boys and they were drafting plans to run fuel in on tankers from Europe and Ireland.
I actually left the T&GWU because of the fuel protests and my perception that the then general sectretary (Bill Morris IIRC) had one eye on his knighthood and publicly denounced the protestors.
Sixties boy:
The fuel protests was the farmers and some owner drivers, none of the unions were involved (possibly due to laws restricting 2nd picketing) and none of the large transport companies were involved (yes some drivers would not cross farmers blockade). At the time I worked for one of the big boys and they were drafting plans to run fuel in on tankers from Europe and Ireland.
What you say is most probably true, I can’t remember the actual details and politics of it tbh.
However, the principle of a group of individuals joining together as one body, (as either a union with a small ‘c’ or an official Trade Union,) in order to get results, or to achieve an agenda, or simply to illustrate a point, was what I was saying.
cooper1203:
As the title really im wondering what unions there are as I have seen several official bodies mentioned on here in various posts. also can one deduct the payment that goes to the labour party from the dues. Whilst I will more than likely join when I get offered a contract as I believe the union is there for the benefit of all and therefor should be funded by all I also have strong political views.
For what it is worth you certainly can choose to opt out of contributing part of your Subs to the Labour Party and this has always been the case but it dosen’t seem to reduce the £ millions the Brothers hand over to the Labour Party !! Bewick.