Anonymous Patron writes “eGov monitor Reports The National Archives and The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI), which is currently attached to the Cabinet Office, are to merge. The merger will create a stronger centre for information management in the public sector, enabling a more responsive approach to the challenges of new technology.
The merger was announced today in a statement made jointly by Hilary Armstrong MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in the Commons and Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, in the Lords.”
I’m not a resident
How about I send a letter to the county detailing why I think unions are a bad thing in this country. How once they were useful but now they are simply legalized extortion. Need some useless pipes put in for your flushless urinals, call a union plumber. What will they do at the library catalog and shelve non-existant books?
Please these people have a voice, it comes from their vocal cords. They can vote with their feet. Unfortunately if everyone walks there are plenty of librarians who would gladly take their jobs for less pay.
Librarians don’t need a union we need respect and remuneration for the professionals we are. You get it, now I get it all librarians should get it.
Gotta agree
I was in a union once. Not a library union, but a union nonetheless.
It was the ultimate in metaphysical masturbation. We had a simple set up. I’d pay money into the union, against my will mind you because as a grocery worker in Washington state you are forced to join. So I’d pay money into the union, and get absolutely nothing in return! It was perfect! I’d watch management fire co-workers for the most asinine reasons, and nothing would happen! I got hurt on the job, and damn near got into my first fistfight with a woman because she didn’t believe the injury was serious enough to run the paperwork through. (For the record, my thumb got mashed. Bad. Really bad. As in blood shot out the end of my thumb like pus from a popped pimple. Did I mention I’m a hemophiliac? Did I mention the lovely hematoma forming within 24 hours?)
Did I also mention the union rep regularly showing up in his expensive suit to do lunch with the store manager? How’s about that shop steward who was the meekest person in the joint?
Yup, unions are A Number 1 in my book.
/sarcasm
Without Unions We Get Almost Nothing
See also: Congress Stiffs Low-Income Workers at The Hunger Homelessness and Poverty Task Force website.
As usual…
…reality is somewhere in between the two extremes.
I quit a job when the battle for a union became too much. Although I was not happy with the management and the crap they were pulling, a union wasn’t going to solve the problems they were having. Getting rid of the director would have, but that didn’t happen. The fight between the two factions (pro-union and management) made getting anything else done impossible. Everyone was so busy in committees designed by management to make people feel like they had a voice that there was no one left to work the public service desks. Isn’t the public why we are here?
Unions are fine, as employers still opress workers in many cases (I’ve seen it… My father is going through it at the moment. He’s being treated horribly, and there is nothing he can do. He’s 60 years old, and he has to have a job), but the rules and laws for both sides regarding collective bargaining need to be overhauled. Big time.
Re:I’m not a resident
Perhaps you might first “learn” of the situation in Indy before making sure there will be plenty of librarians if those wanting a voice decided to walk. Upon reading the articles in Indystar.com, one order of business the new director implemented was a hiring freeze of librarians, apparently she didn’t think they were necessary since google can do their job, and they just retired 30+ librarians. Think about moving?
Re:Gotta agree
Yeah you mentioned you had a bad experience with the union, but didn’t mention your opened your mouth and tried to make a change?
Re:As usual…
I believe we have no choice but to continue for union recognition. The situation has NEVER been this bad at IMCPL and plenty of staff with over 30 years will testify to that. So we are not giving up and if we have to work at getting the Director out, so be it! If we have to work and get the Libary Board out, so be it.