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Unions, they are now scraping the dregs of the barrel

  • 09-04-2010 5:12pm
    #1
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭


    I have been a Union member since 2002 when I took on casual work in the ESB and other various construction jobs during the boom years. I paid up the relevant fees for the duration of employment. However in between jobs I would be either unemployed, abroad or else working on something "off the trade" that would make me exempt from paying the full dues.

    I would get a note from either my accountant or the labour exchange to verify that I was "off the trade" or not about. Just before Christmas I got an invoice of over e240 to clear my arrears in from August 2008 up until Christmas last. I provided the necessary paperwork to cover that period. They assured me that I was up to date and had nothing outstanding on my account.

    Today I get another invoice looking for e140 to cover on and off arrears between 2005 and 2008. I find this appalling and totally unprofessional I have already given them cover notes from both the labour exchange and my accountant during those periods. They now tell me that they have no record of this at all. I now have to go to all the hassle of digging up all this information again to cover myself.

    It looks like they are really scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for funds. Has anyone else had similar hassle recently?


Comments

  • #2
    gerrycollins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭gerrycollins


    well immediately you can say that with so much unemployment and people cutting back that union subs would be first to suffer. They have to pay those large salaries somehow.


  • #3
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,065 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    now have to go to all the hassle of digging up all this information again to cover myself
    You don't have to "cover" yourself. You can simply leave the union if you are not happy.

    It's a bit silly to assume that all trade unions are now "scraping the dregs of the barrell" based on one personal incident in one trade union!


  • #4
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    You don't have to "cover" yourself. You can simply leave the union if you are not happy.
    It seems to be a "closed shop" in many places of employment with unions merging, the last job just had two affiliated. In contract work it can be the difference of getting or not getting a job if you don't have a card up to scratch particularly if you get called at short notice

    It was in fact the Union that suggested me to keep my account active on the minimum contribution rather than terminate it altogether between jobs.
    Wishbone Ash wrote: »

    It's a bit silly to assume that all trade unions are now "scraping the dregs of the barrel" based on one personal incident in one trade union!
    The reason I posted this in appropriate forum is to see if anyone else had similar experiences.


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