Multi-employer industry agreements, minimum wage,restrictions precluding freeloading,minimum redundancy protections. All in Green policy, but lacking from Labour’s, at least yet.

Here’s a bit from it:

“Mr Tan told the National Business Review that when he first outlined his plan in July to stand as a candidate in Mt Roskill, he was told by the union’s director of organising Bill Newson that if he wanted to do so he expected him to resign.’

Andrew Little directly calls Mr Tan a liar in the report and claims he has email evidence. Fortunately for Mr Little current negotiations with Mr Tan excuse him from revealing his ‘evidence’.

Are you saying he outright lied when said the EPMU tried to get him to resign before they stood him down?

I don’t remember seeing Tan saying that, but I might have missed it. Do you have a reference?

Finally: I think a vital point has been missed: A person who has spent a lot of his life involved with and working in the broad Left wing movement has seen the light (not in a religious sense!) and realized his error. Its got to be a good thing. I’m sure all will be welcome, including those who post here when they also inevitably reach this stage.

You might be surprised. Are you able to actually critique the comment, a sarcastic comment doesn’t really add anything. Try and make a counter argument, if you can, and then I can have a shot at rebutting it. Much more fun that way.

A “fair due’? Oh please.

“Oh please”? Umm, I guess I can’t argue with that. Save youself the effort and just grunt next time.

“If that someone who can work harder chooses to go on an individual contract and can demonstrate they are a more valuable employee, and they are in a good industry, and are lucky enough to have a good employer, they might be paid a bit more. Honestly, what are you moaning about?!”

Judging by your comment here, how odten have you ever seen a private sector or non union employee?

Sure doesn’t look likely from the ignorance you’ve expressed, Matthew.

“It’s not fair that freeloaders can get union-negotiated benefits without paying a fair due, but you don’t see us all having a cry about it.”

A “fair due”? Oh please.

How often does someone on an individual contract get called a scab anyway? Have you ever seen a union member? It sure don’t look likely from the knowledge expressed in that comment.

If that someone who can work harder chooses to go on an individual contract and can demonstrate they are a more valuable employee, and they are in a good industry, and are lucky enough to have a good employer, they might be paid a bit more. Honestly, what are you moaning about?!

Workers should have the right to have an individual contract if they want to, without some jackass calling them a scab. It’s not fair that some worker can get the same wage as someone else who works harder.

Just a minor note of correction to SP’s post – the final rally at Harbour Stadium is actually tomorrow (Friday) at 1pm. Hopefully see some of you there! I’m really looking forward to feeling the positive energy of a big group of workers standing together for something they believe in, rather than sitting on their arses alone typing away at a keyboard because they think someone on the internet is wrong.

All we do know is the EPMU has not disciplined Shawn Tan, they’ve stood him down on full pay while they investigate the breach of his employment agreement, which all sounds pretty fair and in line with due process to me.

The irony is Shawn Tan seems to be doing the best he can to get himself fired for publicity’s sake. Makes you wonder if that was his plan all along.

Steve: In relation to Mr Tan I think there is still time for the EPMU to take up Trotters suggested option:

“..I would have congratulated Mr Tan on his decision to participate so actively in the democratic process; raised with him the potential difficulties involved in working for a Labour-affiliated trade union while campaigning actively for ACT; offered him leave on full pay up until the announcement of the election date; and invited him to take his annual leave during the campaign proper.’

I think that’s what any reasonable, decent employer would do instead of resorting to employer bullying and threats.

One must also factor in the fact that Tan advised his immediate manager of his intentions and was told he expected him to resign.

It is clear that the clause in the contract is a barrier to people standing. It clearly is designed to force someone to seek approval for an activity which they by law do not have to seek approval for. The very existance of this clause would be enough for some people to consider not standing (if of course they are planning to stand for the “wrong” party).

You may find it a conflict of interest but the rules regarding exemptions don’t extend to unions.