The Construction sector didn’t screw up the country, the government and Social(ist) Partners did. They created an economically suicidal environment which the construction sector reacted to. Every individual who sold their own home to the highest bidder during this period was just as much part of the problem. The core problem was that the government didn’t govern and so the vested interest groups, be they CONGRESS (ictu), IBEC, the CIF, the Banks, CORI, SIPTU etc were given an almost free hand to carve up the country.
The Mafia analogy is sound; if I, upon attempting to move my accounts from Bank of Ireland to AIB, was told that I could not do so as there was an agreement between the banks not to take each other’s customers then it might apply to them. But it wouldn’t happen so the analogy doesn’t fit.
The Mafia is also there to protect the interests of its members (“made man” rather than “Comrades”) to the detriment of the rest of the general population.
Apparantly the strike is beginning to break down - a lot of workers passed through the pickets this morning.
Absolutely. Two wrongs don’t make a right. By the way the legal and medical representative bodies are trade unions (and so, ironically, is IBEC).
I appreciate how lucky I am but equally realise that the benefits I enjoy now and indeed when I worked were due to being part of a strongly unionised workforce.
The Construction sector didn’t screw up the country, the government and Social(ist) Partners did. They created an economically suicidal environment which the construction sector reacted to. Every individual who sold their own home to the highest bidder during this period was just as much part of the problem. The core problem was that the government didn’t govern and so the vested interest groups, be they CONGRESS (ictu), IBEC, the CIF, the Banks, CORI, SIPTU etc were given an almost free hand to carve up the country.
The point you are missing is that the terms and conditions that the vast majority of people enjoy in the Banking sector would not be at the level they are without the presence of a strong union who ably negotiated such terms and conditions , would the Banks have applied such terms and conditions voluntarily - would they B***ix !This is as much a factor of working in Financial Services as the involvement of any trade union. Or more accurately, you work in a profession insulated by government decree and reap the benefits of the virtual eradication of competition. Your customers pay the costs. You would have enjoyed the same benefits regardless of whether you were in the union or not, so essentially you signed up for a voluntary tax to afford the likes of David Begg and Peter McCloone the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed.
I am a non-unionised public sector worker so know what I'm talking about.
Somebody missed the "everything-was-grand-until-Lehman-Brothers-collapsed" memo.
You are missing the point that if banking was not a protected sector such terms and conditions would not sustainable and that ultimately it is the customers, from corporations to pensioners, who have paid and will continue to pay for your “package”.The point you are missing is that the terms and conditions that the vast majority of people enjoy in the Banking sector would not be at the level they are without the presence of a strong union who ably negotiated such terms and conditions , would the Banks have applied such terms and conditions voluntarily - would they B***ix !
I would have thought there was plenty of competition out there in the Banking Sector or am I missing something ?You are missing the point that if banking was not a protected sector such terms and conditions would not sustainable and that ultimately it is the customers, from corporations to pensioners, who have paid and will continue to pay for your “package”.
Yes, open competition.I would have thought there was plenty of competition out there in the Banking Sector or am I missing something ?
Nope, we are open to international competition. If we fail we just go out of business. Our competition is not limited through any barriers to entry.No doubt your business generates income in the same fashion ?
I'm not having a go at you, please don't think I am. I am just pointing out that pay rates and T&C's like that are unsustainable in the wider, more open sections, of the economy so in effect the rest of the economy is subsidising you and everyone else in the protected and state sectors.And it's not my "package " - it was agreed by my employers , the union and Kieran Mulvey - I was however delighted to avail of it !
The point you are missing is that the terms and conditions that the vast majority of people enjoy in the Banking sector would not be at the level they are without the presence of a strong union who ably negotiated such terms and conditions , would the Banks have applied such terms and conditions voluntarily - would they B***ix !
I would have thought there was plenty of competition out there in the Banking Sector or am I missing something ?
The profit's enjoyed by the Bank's from staff , customers be they corporations or personal - it's called capitalism.
No doubt your business generates income in the same fashion ?
And it's not my "package " - it was agreed by my employers , the union and Kieran Mulvey - I was however delighted to avail of it !
I am sue your friends in Morgan and Merrills are earning good money and more power to them !I have friends working in the non-unionised JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch. I guess you can assume they earn a pittance, right?
Thanks for that, it's always good to start the weekend with a hearty laugh.
Well actually, in capitalism corporations operate for the benefit of shareholders not necessarily the customers or employees (although usually their interests will coincide). If employees want a piece of the profit action then they are free to risk their capital by investing like the shareholders have.
But then insolvent businesses fail in capitalism, so whatever we have now, it's not capitalism.
Presumably the corollary of your theory that bank staff are directly responsible for bank profitability, is that when banks are incurring losses, the staff are also responsible? So I guess the unions are out there arguing for reductions in wages for staff because the banks are losing so much money?
I understand Purple's business is in exporting, so no, his business doesn't generate income in any manner comparable to a private banking cartel.
Right, and it was paid for by your hapless customers. None of whom could shop elsewhere because all licensed operators had to "agree" to effectively the same package. I believe you call it capitalism.
Deise,
You are very naieve to think the dispute is over, ECA buckled to the big builder mates in CIF to stike a deal. The recommendation issed by the Labour Court is a NON binding one as he knows the AECI are opposed to it. They are voting this week in the knowledge that NECI are ready to go back to the High Court as they did a year ago to take out an injunction to stop the REA applying to their members. In the last year since they took out the original injunction there has been a huge downturn in the Construction market, thousands of electrician jobs have been lost. Customers have requested rate reductions from Electrical Contractors, tender prices have plummeted....... > How can small contractors be subjected to rate increases as agreed by the Mercuries, Kirby, Designer Groups of this world. Its absurd to be agreeing a rate increase in the current market.
Secman
I never said that the dispute was over , if you read my post I said I hoped that the compromise would be accepted by both sides.Deise,
You are very naieve to think the dispute is over, ECA buckled to the big builder mates in CIF to stike a deal. The recommendation issed by the Labour Court is a NON binding one as he knows the AECI are opposed to it. They are voting this week in the knowledge that NECI are ready to go back to the High Court as they did a year ago to take out an injunction to stop the REA applying to their members. In the last year since they took out the original injunction there has been a huge downturn in the Construction market, thousands of electrician jobs have been lost. Customers have requested rate reductions from Electrical Contractors, tender prices have plummeted....... > How can small contractors be subjected to rate increases as agreed by the Mercuries, Kirby, Designer Groups of this world. Its absurd to be agreeing a rate increase in the current market.
Secman
Why have the TEETU lifted the pickets?