Story 8. A Union of Sheep Fucking Idiots.

A Union at work.

Unionism in the 1970s was fast becoming a relic of the past, having long out lived its use by date, the mostly unemployable knuckle dagger's who were paid by the union and referred to as "organisers" had previously discovered as the British coal industry closed down around them they were abandoned by their unions and left totally unemployable because of their union association. They were forced to migrate to Australia in a desperate effort to survive.

With the Sheep fucking union making headway in the open cut mining industry through CSR and the Mt Gunson workforce, the workers were gradually being coerced into making various pay claims on management under the umbrella of more pay a better life, regardless of the effect it had on the viability of the struggling mine which was management top heavy and experiencing record low international copper prices.

One day I was with a group of five or so managers discussing the pit plan, we stood at the top of the pit very near the haul road when we noticed one of the dump truck drivers passing with a magazine spread open and resting over the steering wheel, he was so interested in the magazine he failed to notice the group standing ten or so meters away looking in on him as he drove past .

This observation was commented on by several senior managers within the group.

As a serious safety issue this was a sack-able offense, inattention while driving a 50ton truck placed not only himself but his fellow workers in danger, ( try texting and driving on the road ) the operator was called into the office where he had the appropriate mine safety section read out before being given his marching orders.

The union hearing of this stepped in accusing the mine management of victimisation of one of its members and called for the mine to strike in protest.

As the mine workers all agreed the incident was a blatant disregard of safety the operator in question received no sympathy from his fellow workers.

The union was furious by the lack of support shown, especially from its rank and file, plus the fact they had driven over 200km to help only to be shunned by the workforce.

The Sheep fuckers union promptly called the entire site to a meeting the following day and suggested a site-wide strike be held to show support.

With the help of Mr Dunn a mill worker and union planted stooge who seem to have little idea of the gravity of the initial problem or its possible consequences, regardless, he had been prompted by the knuckle draggers to support the proposed site wide strike, seeking nothing less than re-employment of the irresponsible driver despite his obvious and blatant disregard for everyone's safety.

So with the help of the totally unionised truck workshop and the clueless mill workers, the union, with a quick show of hands and no proof of actually having a majority, closed the entire site for two weeks.

Due to the operational timing of our export shipping along with the financial pressure of cancelling a ship that was only available three times a year, the operator was reinstated.

A victory for union stupidity and a significant financial loss for every one concerned.

Returning to work two weeks later many of the mine employees questioned why they had to take the financial loss for one persons blatant stupidity and why the Union had became involved.

Four weeks later the reinstated truck driver resigned.

And many of the mine operators resigned from union involvement.