🚀 go-pugleaf

In <31a99a7d.5233026@news.m.iinet.net.au>
   drwho@iinet.net.au (Anthony Kidd) writes:

>On Mon, 27 May 1996 03:06:28 GMT, bernie@metapro.DIALix.oz.au (Bernd
>Felsche) wrote:

>>In <31a85d41.21229782@news.m.iinet.net.au>
>>   drwho@iinet.net.au (Anthony Kidd) writes:
>                                  <snip doctor>
>>It works for some of us. Notably those who are critical resources
>>for their employer.
>>
>>Surely there isn't a glut of experienced, competent construction
>>workers, so the cost of losing one is pretty high, considering
>>that employment of new people is inherently expensive.

>At this moment in time there are quite a few construction workers
>out of work.

>I have not seen many cranes in perth lately or new high rise buildings
>going up,but acording to the news tonight there be some big
>jobs coming on line and they say it will be like the 60's in the
>construction game in WA.

>Why is it expensive to employ a new  tradesperson? As a tradesperson
>already knows there trade.

Taxes! Minimum allowances, etc. Last I heard (about 2 years ago), it
costs $20,000 a year to employ somebody, before you pay them a single
cent.

>>Demonstrate your value to your employer and if they have a clue, then
>>they'll be happy to sit down and work out a deal which suits you.  It's
>>not easy to do this, especially if your family depends on your income,
>>and you're effectively putting your job on the bargaining table. You
>>are selling your services to your employer. That's all there is to it.

>In my trade one painter is as good as the next (most of the time). 

Or as bad! :-)

If the employer can ensure that a job gets done right the first time
by hiring competent people so that re-work is unnecessary, then the
better tradespeople will be able to demand more, because they are worth
much more.

This is as much consumer-driver, as trades-driven. One thing which the
unions can do, which may be asking a bit much, but is nevertheless
worth mentioning; is to educate the consumers to expect high standards
of quality. This forces the providers of services and equipment to take
more care or to bear increased losses from rectification work.

>This is why Construction workers have to be protected by a union .
>Because in the construction game the big bosses would get
>together and have a set rate of pay for workplace agreements and me 
>bet's it would be less than what we are getting now.

Not if you increase expectations of affordable excellence in
workmanship.  It need not take any longer to do a job well if you know
what you're doing, but even if it does, then the extra time spent is
far less than the cost of having to do it twice!

If you think of yourself as a commodity, then you will be treated
as one.

>>Except when Unions prevented it, I've always worked under a "workplace
>>agreement", which has been for well over 10 years now. I left one
>>employer who chose not to pay me enough for my services -- until my
>>resignation was on the table -- but I left anyway. There are now 3
>>people _trying_ to do the job which I was doing.

>The unions have done alot of good for construction workers.

>If it was not for the unions construction workers would be getting
>killed left right and center and I would be on $5.00 hr.

>If the workplace agreement has worked for you. I am pleased.

>Would it work for construction workers?......Me thinks not as there
>are to many crooked bosses in our game.

There are crooked bosses in every "game".

Consider that the union (perhaps not deliberately) deals with the
workers as a commodity in much the same way as the employer; and you
pay your union to do it to you! :-) The union sets the rate based
on what it thinks you're worth, or rather, what the average is worth.
[In practice, it's a little different; the rate is set based on
industry averages, profitability of employers, etc.]

There is a role for unions in defining minimum conditions for
many workplaces, but they should not IMHO impose the same conditions
on those who opt out because they believe that they can get a better
deal. Neither should employers be permitted to force employees to
accept conditions below the minimum.

Workplace agreements work when employees (their unions) and their
employers recognize that employees are not a commodity.
-- 
Bernd Felsche {speaking for himself}
MetaPro Systems Pty Ltd, 130 Fauntleroy Avenue,
Redcliffe, Western Australia 6104
Phone: +61 9 479 3722    Fax: +61 9 479 3720