Jack O Connor on Radio 1 now

[hopi watcher]

So the only circumstance in which the union leaders should limit would themselves to a mere 6 times the minimum wage, would be where all other high-earners in the economy jump first?

Sortta undermines their high moral ground when it comes to "afflicting the comfortable", no?

Union leaders are powerless to do anything, it's the membership that decide things. All unions are democratic entities. There should be no question of anyone 'jumping first', restrcitions on high pay should be enforced until we are out of the mire. That way, no one gets to go hungry. Given your concern for the countries plight, I'm sure you will have no problems with such a strategy.

[Proposition Joe]

Union leaders are powerless to do anything, it's the membership that decide things.

Jack O'Connor himself described how as an union official he successfully ran a campaign to reduce the salaries of the union executive (simply by pegging their salaries to a slightly less elevated civil service grade).

So they're hardly powerless on this score.

[hopi watcher]

Jack O'Connor himself described how as an union official he successfully ran a campaign to reduce the salaries of the union executive (simply by pegging their salaries to a slightly less elevated civil service grade).

So they're hardly powerless on this score.

What has that to do with what is being discussed? Again for the hard of hearing, Union leaders act on instructions from their members on all issues, repeat all issues. They have no mandate to dream up their own agenda.

[Proposition Joe]

What has that to do with what is being discussed?

Union leader. Campaigns against high pay for union executive. Is successfull. Pay reduced.

Still struggling to see the relevance?

[hopi watcher]

Union leader. Campaigns against high pay for union executive. Is successfull. Pay reduced.

Still struggling to see the relevance?

What is the relevence of the event you describe to the contention that "Union Leaders" have the power to change national policy? And once again, in as simple english as I can muster, Union Leaders do the bidding of the their members. They have no mandate to do otherwise. Unions are totally democratic entities.

[edor]

What has that to do with what is being discussed? Again for the hard of hearing, Union leaders act on instructions from their members on all issues, repeat all issues. They have no mandate to dream up their own agenda.

That's interesting. So it was the members who came up with the idea of a frontline alliance formed with the sectors that deal with the most at risk public. Of these, those that can strike will cause maximum damage on the government. They are formed entirely of public services. What planet are you on?

A nurse rang Marian Finnucan yesterday to challenge the SIPTU official - she said she wont strike and thinks that is dispicable that the unions that nurses and other professions where peoples lives can be put at risk are being used by the unions to bash the government.

[Proposition Joe]

A nurse rang Marian Finnucan yesterday to challenge the SIPTU official - she said she wont strike and thinks that is dispicable that the unions that nurses and other professions where peoples lives can be put at risk are being used by the unions to bash the government.

I heard that. The union official's response was very odd. Claimed the nurse was simply confused, she didn't understand how unions and strike ballots work. Despite her having multiple decades of service under her belt, and been through several strikes.

[X-ray]

I heard that. The union official's response was very odd. Claimed the nurse was simply confused, she didn't understand how unions and strike ballots work. Despite her having multiple decades of service under her belt, and been through several strikes.

It works like a democracy, if most of the nurses in her union agree with her she will win. Nobody is forcing her to strike, stay at work if you like, but leave the union. You are either prepared to stand by a democratic decision of the union you are in or you are not. If you are not that is fine, don't harp on about it as if it is unfair the majority disagree with you.

[Proposition Joe]

It works like a democracy, if most of the nurses in her union agree with her she will win.

Did you hear the interview, X-Ray?

The woman understood perfectly well how strike ballots work and didn't take kindly to being spoken-down to by the union official with a "its like a democracy" type of response.

Briefly her points were:

- nurses now have a legal duty-of-care to their patients and this legal obligation was not explained to her fellow members before they voted

- the back-office public sector unions should shoulder the burden of the strike rather than hiding behind the skirts of photogenic nurses

[ang]

It works like a democracy, if most of the nurses in her union agree with her she will win. Nobody is forcing her to strike, stay at work if you like, but leave the union. You are either prepared to stand by a democratic decision of the union you are in or you are not. If you are not that is fine, don't harp on about it as if it is unfair the majority disagree with you.

X-ray this is the article the nurse wrote for the sindo. Yes it did get heated between her and the rep.


Nurses can't fight for their pay and patients at the same time - Analysis, Opinion - Independent.ie

I think she promoted the case for nurses much better than any union ever could. She doesn't want to be used on behalf of other people.