Our company wanted tie strings to a pay rise. New employees were to be have holiday entitlement capped and must accept Sunday as a rostered work day if the company decided it should be. The Union recommended acceptance of this offer because "It did not affect current employees" and "It was the best we would get". Neither valid reasons in my view and the first is certainly not what unions are supposed to be about. These changes were seen as the thin end of a wedge (change new employees now, come back for the current ones later - playing both groups against each other no doubt).

A ballot was held and the members rejected the offer by 2 to 1. The union has issued a notice saying that the members are to be applauded by their high principled stand in matters which did not directly affect them!!

When I asked were the union leaderships principles were that they could recommend acceptance in the first place, it was blank stares in response.

I support Unions (with a capital U) but struggle to justify continuing in this one.