Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Matilda

(6,384 posts)
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 04:21 AM Mar 2014

Anti-Union Pledge Card

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]


A very good reminder to right-wing loonies that so many of the benefits we all enjoy flowed on to the workforce from hard-won trade union battles.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Anti-Union Pledge Card (Original Post) Matilda Mar 2014 OP
, blkmusclmachine Mar 2014 #1
Off to the greatest! cui bono Mar 2014 #2
Do you mean Joe Hill? Matilda Mar 2014 #3
No, but that was a good listen. cui bono Mar 2014 #10
This one? DeeDeeNY Mar 2014 #7
Yes, that's the one! Thanks. cui bono Mar 2014 #9
Look, it's the leader of the liberal party... Fairgo Mar 2014 #4
i'm afraid JackInGreen Mar 2014 #6
Tony Abbott Fairgo Mar 2014 #8
Re the photo - yes, Abbott on the right, Matilda Mar 2014 #11
It's kind of interesting to watch business killing off the trade unions jtuck004 Mar 2014 #5

cui bono

(19,926 posts)
2. Off to the greatest!
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 05:28 AM
Mar 2014

Reminds me of that letter from Joe... something or other... that talked about the benefits unions gave workers.

Or was it to Joe Republican?

Fairgo

(1,571 posts)
4. Look, it's the leader of the liberal party...
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 05:53 AM
Mar 2014

Cheers!
Time for a new, new world order...along the lines of the IWW.
From a card carrying member of the NTEU.

JackInGreen

(2,975 posts)
6. i'm afraid
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 06:43 AM
Mar 2014

I don't quite understand your post, it seems a little obtuse (or I may have been up for too damn long). Care to elucidate?

Fairgo

(1,571 posts)
8. Tony Abbott
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 07:28 AM
Mar 2014

No worries. Tony Abbott is featured in the photo, I believe. He is the PM and Shining Star of the Liberal Party. Tony and his crew are the in the pocket of the big money interests. The loyal opposition is the Labour party... Traditional democratic values with a respect for the social contract, and of course the voice of the unions. Thus the slightly satirical play on words.

Matilda

(6,384 posts)
11. Re the photo - yes, Abbott on the right,
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 07:58 PM
Mar 2014

and on the left Employment Minister, Eric Abetz. (Abetz's great-uncle Otto was a high-ranking Nazi. Just saying).

Six months after the election, Abbott has already announced his intention to review Industrial Relations laws, which are the only protection for low-paid workers, mostly in factories and retail. Everything is on the table, in spite of pre-election promises to the contrary.

And while I think there have been times when unions have abused their power, and I have no particular love for a number of officials in some of the right-wing unions, I don't doubt for a moment that if the law doesn't demand fair pay and good conditions for workers, they could never count on management to do the right thing. We all enjoy benefits in this country which were won for us by trade unions, and it's the same all over the western world.

 

jtuck004

(15,882 posts)
5. It's kind of interesting to watch business killing off the trade unions
Mon Mar 10, 2014, 05:59 AM
Mar 2014

after the trade unions, in the 1920's, helped business kill off the Industrial Unions like the IWW and the Steelworkers. Get to feel a little of the pain they caused their brothers and sisters in their "battles". That 150 years on the card seems to be trying to take credit for sacrifices they never made and the pain they caused others, though that is pretty common. (One can read about it in Mother Jones autobiography, Matles "Them and Us", Haywoods writings, others of the time).

Still, however, I mostly like the card. It should make a few people think.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Australia»Anti-Union Pledge Card