unions?

[Dilz]

after just reading a thread about some one having trouble getting money from a customer (the non paying swine:thumbdown:!!!) i noticed a comment that there should be a union for arborists, and as far as i know in the uk there isnt. I have used the union over in sweden when an employer refused to pay me, and although its going to take a long time, progress is being made.

 

We also have union reps visit us on site when working on the big government projects over in sweden, who make sure we aren't being exploited and recently a group of Lithuanians got help as it turned out they were getting ripped off by their employer.

 

These unions deal with forestry and arb (comes under parks and nature) related things all the time.

 

In the uk as far as i know there is no arb union, but i reckon there must be a forestry one?

 

I think if there was a union, that was set up to deal with matters such as non payment by clients, employers not providing ppe etc. ( i could have done with one with one of my first employers - paid below minimum wage, made me buy all my own kit, no holiday pay, i.e treated me like i was self employed whilst not paying self employed rates, i put up with it as a) i didnt know any better b) i was desperate for a start in the industry)

 

 

I wouldnt have the first clue about setting up a union, but i'm sure there are some people that would know, maybe something through the arb association? or some such.

 

naturaly there would have to be guide lines for everything, but imagine how much stress it could save if, like so many of us have experienced, a customer refused to pay, you make a phone call to the union, send them the details and they take care of it for you.

 

just an idea, dont know if it would be any good but would be interested if any one else has got any views on this?

[Rupe]

Unions deal with employers and employees, not comapanies and clients. So they wouldn't be able to help with customers not paying the bills.

[pgkevet]

I'm not sure that a union is going to get a self-employed person paid by a private client. What are they going to do? Picket a suburb over a few hundred pounds? The best your going to get is a union affiliated lawyer giving you 'free' advice in exchange for your union dues.

 

A union is best placed when it come to negotiating between a large group of employees and a huge business subset...such as working rules for you guys doing line clearance work.

 

I suspect you can get affiliated to another general union anyway if that's what you want but general employment law and H&S rule cover most of your stuff.

 

The greatest benefit of unionising is if you want to develop your own set of minimum working regs..such as hourly rates, specialised safety issues you feel are inadequate and perhaps use combined powers to negotiate union specials on health insurances and the like.

 

As part of a larger general union it's likely that the union won't be that bothered about this small group of members..except for taking your dues in exchange for some of these small benefits. If you create your own small union then it may lack voice, will need officers to run it and someone has to pay for their time and accept the restrictions it also imposes on you.

 

It's also divisive between bosses and workers and will become it's own animal. Inevitably it's going to want to discipline rogue members and then later get sucked into the PC transparency of having lay members on committees and such like. It's the way my own profession went: we gave away more than we ever got back.

[Dilz]

make senses, just a passing thought, will have to stick to returning wood chip and logs to drive ways i guess.

[easy-lift guy]

The day I become dependent upon someone else or an organization to collect from a customer for services rendered would be the last day I would ever work for myself.

Unions for the most part are for persons who can not or will not depend on them self's to get their collective jobs done. Here in the states Unions by in large have been infiltrated by Communist ready, willing and able to do what ever it takes and more to increase membership and destroy private industry or anyone else in it path. Why would anyone be willing to pay an organization anything to represent them self's for the sake of belonging is a sad state of affairs to say the least. I have family members here in the states that belong to a Union and they are MISERABLE. I warned them about 10 years ago that when the government jobs ran out there would be a high price to pay. They did not choose wisely and are in a very bad way presently. Even if they could find any private work for income and the Union found out they would be shut down at once and investigated for their actions against the union. BTW, they would also have to wait 60, 90, or up to 120 days to get paid as well from their union jobs. Just remember Unions do not represent their members they represent the union.

Fortunately here in the states Unions are in decline and I hope will continue to do so.

If you can not or will not work for yourself work for someone else or move to Sweden and try setting up shop there, I am sure they need more union members to baby sit.

elg

[Old Mill Tree Care]

WhAt I'd be more interested in would be an organisation like Gas Safe (for plumbers) to help eradicate the gypos, cowboys and general scumbags.

I wish the government would set it up for us.

In fact, I'll set it up, run it and finance it, just after I've won the lottery.