Where would the UK be without the Unions, eh?

[Smiler.]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8815280/T...

Article said:

Unions insist that the practice – known as "facility time" – actually saves far more money than it costs because paid-for union representatives help to resolve worker disputes before they escalate.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, the UK's largest public sector union, said: "Attacking trade union facility time is just plain daft. Far from costing taxpayers money trade unions save the public purse between £170m and £400m every year by creating a more efficient, motivated workforce, and resolving issues. A government report estimates they also boost productivity by nearly £4 billion a year.

Well he would wouldn't he

[98elise]

Thanks for that, i needed a laugh.

I've worked in many industries, some unionised, some not. I've never yet seen any union action that did anything but drag on company efficiency, and generally make it a crappy place to work.

[0a]

Given the cost of the rail strike last year is estimated to have cost £600m a day in lost output alone, I think he may have some issues with the numbers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-ra...

[turbobloke]

A government report says Unions are ace and save £billions...would that be under Thatcher / Major, or Bliar / Clown?

They certainly had influence under the last lot, which got pushed wider due to politicisation. In one meeting with a top ministry civil servant policy wonk the Unions were mentioned and he began his reply with "Our social partners..."

Our?! Social partners?!?! FFS!

This thread offers a good idea for an experiment though...

[thinfourth2]

unions have their place

A good union should act with the interests of the workers and company as without a company the workers have nothing.

[turbobloke]

thinfourth2 said:

unions have their place

In the history books, without further reform.