"Daily Rant" thread 2019

[Paddler Ed]

The people who are anti union have probably never worked in a big company that without a union presence , would be still working for award wages for doing work that the average joe blow wouldn't want to do.
For the self employed.....that's a choice you make, so unions are not your problem.

I've worked for fairly big wages ( under union rule ) and now work for award wages at a factory.....nearly $80,000 difference, but for workplace safety ( which hopefully keeps you alive ) I'd take the union place any day..

If you look at the safety record of union controlled companies compared to the same type companies with no unions ( USA coal mines is but one ), you may understand that unions do have a place ..

I've worked in union and non-unionised environments (youth work in the UK), and would much prefer the unionised environment for the following reason:
1) The feeling that you have people to back you up, and not hang you out to dry
2) The support that you get from your membership (for example, legal services for all immediate family... not one of those you ever want to use, but when you have the backing of the legal services of one of the biggest UK unions, it's nice knowing it's there!)
3) Transparent pay scales and structures, with clearly defined role expectations and acting up pay when people act up.

However, I also fear that they are their own worst enemies because:
1) The unionised pay scales prevent market relevant pay (and therefore leads to the need for keyworker housing etc to enable those workers to live in the major cities/South East - my £30,000 pay was great in Blackpool, but wouldn't have been as good in Berkshire where I grew up). It also removes in Australia any cost savings to relocate operations out of the major cities - Why would I move my Western Sydney manufacturing operation which pays Award Wages to a regional Area where I'd still pay Award wages... it would cost the business to move, whilst potentially being advantageous to the workers in the short term
2) The union will sometimes have "interesting" personalities in it who will (deliberately) look for the rope to make the noose for the manager

Overall, I recommend unions in any environment where there are threats to your safety in your workplace (retail, extractive industries, construction etc), management can change the conditions you are working under (roster, wages, hours etc) or where you at risk of management's decisions coming back to bite you on your arse, whilst they get away scot free.

[JusyApples]

The people who are anti union have probably never worked in a big company that without a union presence , would be still working for award wages for doing work that the average joe blow wouldn't want to do.
For the self employed.....that's a choice you make, so unions are not your problem.

I've worked for fairly big wages ( under union rule ) and now work for award wages at a factory.....nearly $80,000 difference, but for workplace safety ( which hopefully keeps you alive ) I'd take the union place any day..

If you look at the safety record of union controlled companies compared to the same type companies with no unions ( USA coal mines is but one ), you may understand that unions do have a place ..

Plenty of people dying in NSW this year in workplace incidents in sites where unions are prominent.

You should be paid what you are worth (above the award), not what the union can suck out of the company through boycotts, protests and intimidation.
In the end the jobs end up overseas and industries are lost.


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[gronk]

Plenty of people dying in NSW this year in workplace incidents in sites where unions are prominent.

 


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But can you imagine what the safety record would be like if the unions weren't trying to keep the employers honest.
And yes, there are probably unions that are not fair dinkum about their members, but as a whole, a union is about looking after their members, which includes getting the best conditions and wages as it can. A new EBA is a negotiation between the members and the boss, and in all the yrs I was a coal miner, a new EBA was only a small increase over the last one, and during the last 10yrs when things went quiet, it usually meant trading a long held condition for a wage increase, so not really a win as such.

[Bird]

In the end the jobs end up overseas and industries are lost.

we have a winner..

sadly its 25yrs too late.

[Troopy_03]

Plenty of people dying in NSW this year in workplace incidents in sites where unions are prominent.

You should be paid what you are worth (above the award), not what the union can suck out of the company through boycotts, protests and intimidation.
In the end the jobs end up overseas and industries are lost.


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In a perfect world, that would be great. Sadly it very rarely happens with big companies.

[simmo_33]

But can you imagine what the safety record would be like if the unions weren't trying to keep the employers honest.
And yes, there are probably unions that are not fair dinkum about their members, but as a whole, a union is about looking after their members, which includes getting the best conditions and wages as it can. A new EBA is a negotiation between the members and the boss, and in all the yrs I was a coal miner, a new EBA was only a small increase over the last one, and during the last 10yrs when things went quiet, it usually meant trading a long held condition for a wage increase, so not really a win as such.

I agree 100% Gronk. Worked for 12 years in a truck workshop. Every year the union rep would come into the workshop and before he talked to anyone that was actually in the union he would have morning smoko with the bosses for an hour or so. Then come down and basically tell us what conditions we were giving away that year. I was quiet often the only one to challenge this pommy w+@#%r on what he was proposing, the other blokes in the workshop just voted for it without question. He was definitely in bed with management.
By the end of that period we had nothing left to bargain with and all we ever got was a wage increase pretty much in line with CPI of the day. Basically giving our conditions away for nothing.
But karma is a real b%#@h, about 10 years after I left that workplace the union rep went through court for thieving $15,000. I always thought he was dodgy.

[Hairs]

I hoped I would never of had to do it.
Go to the court house to start recovering moneys owed.
Some people are just Snake Oil Salesman, ever excuse under the sun why they can not pay your, yet they have been paid for the work completed.
Mention the name to a couple of other tradies, and they start coming from everywhere  with stories of what a smooth talker this $%#& is.
No wonder he was locked in his office the last time spoke to him about what he owes.


I've learnt from this.
Trust your gut, had reservations about this bloke, family was involved, so you want to help.
I now know, I have to be a harder bastard.

[D4D]

Tradie rant - I want a brush fence supplied and installed, and new driveway automatic gates supplied and installed.

I have called and emailed 5 tradies for each job and not one response.

Is there really that much work out there? Why don't they have the courtesy to even reply and say no?

[Hairs]

Tradie rant - I want a brush fence supplied and installed, and new driveway automatic gates supplied and installed.

I have called and emailed 5 tradies for each job and not one response.

Is there really that much work out there? Why don't they have the courtesy to even reply and say no?

As Tradie I would of contacted you, even If I couldn't of been able to do the work for few weeks.
Communication is key to my business.

[speewa158]

Not enough / any Greenies on trucks or fire ground     ,    EVER
Gutless Bastards at home fingering the Keyboard  to proclaim there point of view  .
                                         OR lack there of ……………………..

[corndog]

Tradie rant - I want a brush fence supplied and installed, and new driveway automatic gates supplied and installed.

I have called and emailed 5 tradies for each job and not one response.

Is there really that much work out there? Why don't they have the courtesy to even reply and say no?

Is that 5 tradies for each job to quote the job?

[DrewXT]

Tradie rant - I want a brush fence supplied and installed, and new driveway automatic gates supplied and installed.

I have called and emailed 5 tradies for each job and not one response.

Is there really that much work out there? Why don't they have the courtesy to even reply and say no?

Want a great fencer?

He can probably do the lot on that list, but he's got a backlog at the moment

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[Bird]

Tradie rant - I want a brush fence supplied and installed, and new driveway automatic gates supplied and installed.

I have called and emailed 5 tradies for each job and not one response.

Is there really that much work out there? Why don't they have the courtesy to even reply and say no?

Now you know what the rest of us go through

Coming up to xmas?? You got **** all chance.
Need some work done on the deck, need bathroom done - been calling for weeks, to get 'cant see you until Feb at the earliest'...

[D4D]

As Tradie I would of contacted you, even If I couldn't of been able to do the work for few weeks.
Communication is key to my business.

Yep, doesn't take much to return an email and so no thanks

Is that 5 tradies for each job to quote the job?

Yup

Want a great fencer?

Yup send me his details, apparently brush fencing is quite specialised

Now you know what the rest of us go through
Coming up to xmas?? You got **** all chance.
Need some work done on the deck, need bathroom done - been calling for weeks, to get 'cant see you until Feb at the earliest'...

Yeah, I've had quote requests out for over a month

[Hairs]

I use an app called,
Wunderlist to keep on top of work and private appiontments/meetings/jobs.
Setting reminders, taking pictures and notes.
As soon as contact is made I enter it into my phone, it is cloud based so I can access it through my Tablet & PC.
Btw, I don't have an affilation with the developer.
I was told about it from a Forestry worker a couple of years ago. He used it so he could alocate jobs to crews or the crews could take on a job because they were in that area.
You can add people to different catagories if you have employees or mates that you share work with.
It might be something other tradies or businesses could use.

[AllanK]

Just a rant.

“It’s on its way”

Thank you Australia Post for your tracking app, but why don’t you get your finger out of your arse and deliver items as one would expect seeing that we are paying for a service. But that’s right you have almost a monopoly and don’t give a F*##

Bought some HEMA maps which HEMA Brisbane sent to Bundaberg last Monday via AP. Let down by AP again. If it was the first time one wouldn’t worry, yet this happens continually..

Must get this in perspective though. Brisbane is a long long way from Bundy, oh some 300 odd kilometres, over the roughest terrain known to man with mortal risks to any who may dare to travel that route into the unknown..

AP tracking app keeps me well appraised as to ineptitude 👍
MONDAY - collected and processed at Brisbane. AP email advising tracking number and expected  delivery to be Tuesday 6/11;
TUESDAY - zippo;
WEDNESDAY- (now it get interesting) woohoo, tracker says “its on it way”. Processing in Sydney. AP email revised delivery Friday 8November (so much for the 7November birthday present🤔);
THURSDAY - zippo expected, AP did not disappoint 😝
FRIDAY - “it’s on it’s way” Processing at Brisbane WTF. Revised delivery Wednesday 13/11.

Thank God AP just opened a multi million dollar parcel handling warehouse, fully automated etc etc.
Really?

PS. I would attach a photo but there’s nothing to photograph..

[Bird]

Just a rant.

“It’s on its way”

Thank you Australia Post for your tracking app, but why don’t you get your finger out of your arse and deliver items as one would expect seeing that we are paying for a service. But that’s right you have almost a monopoly and don’t give a F*##

Bought some HEMA maps which HEMA Brisbane sent to Bundaberg last Monday via AP. Let down by AP again. If it was the first time one wouldn’t worry, yet this happens continually..

Must get this in perspective though. Brisbane is a long long way from Bundy, oh some 300 odd kilometres, over the roughest terrain known to man with mortal risks to any who may dare to travel that route into the unknown..

AP tracking app keeps me well appraised as to ineptitude 👍
MONDAY - collected and processed at Brisbane. AP email advising tracking number and expected  delivery to be Tuesday 6/11;
TUESDAY - zippo;
WEDNESDAY- (now it get interesting) woohoo, tracker says “its on it way”. Processing in Sydney. AP email revised delivery Friday 8November (so much for the 7November birthday present🤔);
THURSDAY - zippo expected, AP did not disappoint 😝
FRIDAY - “it’s on it’s way” Processing at Brisbane WTF. Revised delivery Wednesday 13/11.

Thank God AP just opened a multi million dollar parcel handling warehouse, fully automated etc etc.
Really?

PS. I would attach a photo but there’s nothing to photograph..

I've come to accept it as normal..
I've mentioned this one before.. bought something 21klms away from here in Melbourne as it was free shipping and I also wanted for weekend and couldnt get there due to work... The parcel according to tracking went to Sydney and back 4 times before it made it to my place.

[Spada]

Thank God AP just opened a multi million dollar parcel handling warehouse, fully automated etc etc.
Really?

Yep, it's been a massive headache  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-30/parcels-crisscrossing-the-country-to-get-to-neighbouring-suburbs/11653932

At one point they were thousands of pallets behind and stuff was being trucked to Sydney to be sorted and sent back to Brisbane?

[Bigfish]

Yep, it's been a massive headache  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-30/parcels-crisscrossing-the-country-to-get-to-neighbouring-suburbs/11653932

At one point they were thousands of pallets behind and stuff was being trucked to Sydney to be sorted and sent back to Brisbane?

But its nice to know the ceo is on several million a year for doing a sterling job....

[corndog]

Tradie rant - I want a brush fence supplied and installed, and new driveway automatic gates supplied and installed.

I have called and emailed 5 tradies for each job and not one response.

Is there really that much work out there? Why don't they have the courtesy to even reply and say no?

So let's say it could be $60 for each guy to come out to you and spend his time costing and working out a price for you. That is $600 just in a quote, $480 in wasted time fo the ones that didn't  get the job because you take the cheapest for each job. Multiply that by 2,3 or 4 times a week. Any wonder some are not that keen to look at certain jobs. But a telephone call is less than 50c and doesn't  take that long just to let you know "Not interested".

[Spada]

But its nice to know the ceo is on several million a year for doing a sterling job....

Biggest problem with Australia Post is that they have recently made all the experienced senior operational people "voluntarily " redundant, and now as a replacement for all the experience and knowledge that has gone, a lot of people have been promoted to their own level of inability. Those of us on the coal face are left shaking our heads at what is going on. For a long time we have been click-clacking away as the roller coaster has climbed to the summit of performance, now we are on the white knuckle free-fall of death back to the bottom. At some point in the near future the company is going to implode and the process of picking up the pieces will start all over again. One day the transient senior managers might listen to the workers about what works and what doesn't..........but I doubt it.

[Pottsy]

So let's say it could be $60 for each guy to come out to you and spend his time costing and working out a price for you. That is $600 just in a quote, $480 in wasted time fo the ones that didn't  get the job because you take the cheapest for each job. Multiply that by 2,3 or 4 times a week. Any wonder some are not that keen to look at certain jobs. But a telephone call is less than 50c and doesn't  take that long just to let you know "Not interested".

Then don’t be a tradie and go into business for yourself as quoting jobs is part and parcel of what you do to survive, you may well not win every job you quote but that’s life.
A phone call or a reply to an email is all most people want, not just completely ignoring the request.

[Bird]

Then don’t be a tradie and go into business for yourself as quoting jobs is part and parcel of what you do to survive, you may well not win every job you quote but that’s life.
A phone call or a reply to an email is all most people want, not just completely ignoring the request.

Bingo.

[GeoffA]

The other side of the coin....

We've had 2 companies come to quote for the installation of ducted heating and cooling.
Both arrived on time, promplty supplied competitive quotes, and followed up on them.
Both have plenty of good reviews.

Sadly, I can only award the work to one of them....

 

[Bird]

The other side of the coin....

We've had 2 companies come to quote for the installation of ducted heating and cooling.
Both arrived on time, promplty supplied competitive quotes, and followed up on them.
Both have plenty of good reviews.

Sadly, I can only award the work to one of them....

 

are they down your way? or general?? shoot me some names.