Workers Unite! Unions thread (Help Clockw0rk win a holiday)

[Clockw0rk]

A bit of background here:
I work for the Ministry of Justice and I’m part of the Public Services Association, a general union for members of Government Ministries. At the moment we’re bargaining for a fair pay system (because the primary focus of any union is complaining about pay :p). Ministry of Justice employees are paid an average of 6.7% below the median for public servants across all ministries, and up to 13% below. Only a small percentage of employees received pay increases last year, and an even smaller percentage will receive them this year, with the Economic Crisis being served up as the main excuse. Many employees put in a lot of overtime and work extremely hard to meet the performance-based criteria for the pay increases, so to be told that they’re not getting anything for their extra work is a bit of a slap in the face.

As part of the PSA campaign for fair pay, employees have been asked to come up with a “yeah right” slogan (I guess you Aussies don’t have Tui billboards, I’ll post up an example when I can) or an animation that expresses their views about Ministry pay and conditions. There are two prizes – one for the best slogan and one for the best animation. Here’s where you come in.

I’ll go for the “accuracy by volume” approach and submit anything you guys post up here (within reason). If one of them wins, I’ll send the poster something to say thanks. Given that most Ministry employees aren't particularly computer literate (judging by my workplace anyway), I’d say that pretty much any half-decent animated gif would be in with a good chance.

If you’re interested, here are some links for images etc:
Ministry Homepage (http://justice.govt.nz/)
Careers at the Ministry (http://careers.justice.govt.nz/)


This thread can also double as discussion about unions in general. Do you belong to one? Do you think they’re a good idea?

[Lex]

cry more, you make far more than you should for shuffling papers. go out and build a house or something.

[Araenel]

I belong to the shopworker and retailers union. They send me a magazine every few months.

That's about it!

[Clockw0rk]

cry more, you make far more than you should for shuffling papers. go out and build a house or something.
First, you don't know what I earn.
Second, any half-decent builder would earn more than me.
Third, "shuffling papers" is a bit unfair, like I said there's a huge workload and most people (including myself) often put in large amounts of overtime.

I'm not complaining too much because I do get paid a decent amount. However, many of my workmates don't, and the Ministry refuses to acknowledge the effort they put in.


Anyway, I didn't make the thread to cry about it, I made it so you can win me a holiday. The prize is 3 nights accommodation in a PSA holiday home. You know you want me to win :p

[Vindik8or]

A bit of background here:
I work for the Ministry of Justice and I’m part of the Public Services Association, a general union for members of Government Ministries. At the moment we’re bargaining for a fair pay system (because the primary focus of any union is complaining about pay :p). Ministry of Justice employees are paid an average of 6.7% below the median for public servants across all ministries, and up to 13% below. Only a small percentage of employees received pay increases last year, and an even smaller percentage will receive them this year, with the Economic Crisis being served up as the main excuse. Many employees put in a lot of overtime and work extremely hard to meet the performance-based criteria for the pay increases, so to be told that they’re not getting anything for their extra work is a bit of a slap in the face.

As part of the PSA campaign for fair pay, employees have been asked to come up with a “yeah right” slogan (I guess you Aussies don’t have Tui billboards, I’ll post up an example when I can) or an animation that expresses their views about Ministry pay and conditions. There are two prizes – one for the best slogan and one for the best animation. Here’s where you come in.

I’ll go for the “accuracy by volume” approach and submit anything you guys post up here (within reason). If one of them wins, I’ll send the poster something to say thanks. Given that most Ministry employees aren't particularly computer literate (judging by my workplace anyway), I’d say that pretty much any half-decent animated gif would be in with a good chance.

If you’re interested, here are some links for images etc:
Ministry Homepage (http://justice.govt.nz/)
Careers at the Ministry (http://careers.justice.govt.nz/)


This thread can also double as discussion about unions in general. Do you belong to one? Do you think they’re a good idea?

But if you get more pay then the median will shift and you'll just cry about being below it again.

[Munky]

Public servants should harden the **** up.

9 day fortnights, flexi hours, 11% super and 18 days sick leave.

They'd know the meaning of work if they had to actually bill clients based on the work they perform.

[Clockw0rk]

9 day fortnights, flexi hours, 11% super and 18 days sick leave.
No, what, no, no.

But if you get more pay then the median will shift and you'll just cry about being below it again.
Hahaha probably.

[Gilder]

Public servants should harden the **** up.

9 day fortnights, flexi hours, 11% super and 18 days sick leave.

They'd know the meaning of work if they had to actually bill clients based on the work they perform.

I've worked for Federal Government and now the private sector (including a big four accounting firm) and honestly not all levels of public service are as cushy as people make out.

I can assure you I never had 9 day fortnights, barely used flex time and didn't take anymore sick days than I do now. And that was the norm in my office as far as I could tell. Super was good though and pay was reasonable up to lower management levels.

There are bludgers that abuse the system at the expense of talent, but that also happens in the private sector.