I am no authority on politics or unions, not by any stretch of the imagination, but I do have eyes, ears and a brain. I have friends and family across a broad variety of public and private sector employment and everywhere you turn at the moment you see sad, hollow and ashen faced people just about coping to get through the day/week/month/year. There is a climate of fear around employment, people are scared to join unions because they don't want to be seen as trouble makers, indeed I have been warned off joining the union by a number of my colleagues. In the UK, the sitting on the centre of the fence Labour Party is distancing themselves from the unions who they have had long standing relationships with. What future are we building for generations to come where no one will stand up and be counted? How can we raise socially minded and community active individuals when the example we are setting is one of make do, don't stand out, don't seem to be causing trouble? There is a saying in American business that the squeakiest wheel gets the oil. If you have the opportunity join your local union (use this union finder tool if you are unsure which to join), be counted, fight.
Rant over, as you were.
