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I`m currently in the Army covering the fire strike and was wondering if the Forces would benefit if they were controlled by Unions or would it have a detrimental effect.

My humble opinion.

The forces shouldnt have unions. When you sign up you know the score.
Besides which, could you imagine say the start of the falklands war, And the union reps going...Hmmm, I dont fancy these odds, lets strike (or at the very least get paid doubletime)

Detrimental with a Capital D, plus I think the legal term is sedition, for even considering it. Wander over to the RSM and ask his opinion, I'm sure he'll give you the benefit of his experience
Hope you lot get home and safe soon.

Bootnecks have lots of REunions. Any excuse for a pissup with friends

the only unions you'll ever see will be over the NAFFI counter e.g.cheese and union,steak and union,and pickle union.

Aye Veloman

When you have a run on Union Street, that should be more than enough experience to demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of collective bargaining, "right lads, shall we have one more here before moving on?"

Archie,

I see you're intending to have Barbie on the beach on Christmas Day. Won't Ken object?

No, not since they brought the all new "Divorced Barbie" ($54.99 at all good shops). Apparently she has got everything, Kens car, Kens House, Kens bank account.......

Archie

Lucky you! Mind you, I did hear on the grapevine that Ken is currentlyin remission (so the kind doctor said) of a particularly virulent type of sexually transmitted disease. (I was going to say STD but I know only you and I would know what it meant!)

Thats what comes of a good run in guzz. "Doc my knob got a cold, it has got runny nose" Doc says " OK royal but if doesnt sneeze in the next 30 seconds i'll call it a dose"

A straightforward question and the answer, instinctively, is NO!

But when you think a bit deeper it's not so simple. Remember the guy in the Lake District abseiling when the SNCO i/c cut the rope when he was about 10ft from the bottom as a "joke"? Broken back - paralysed for life. Who was his representative? Got less than £10K (I think). Remember that tosser who's just got £75K because the council didnt "look after him" while the guy who's throat he cut got nowt?????

So basic principle is when I say jump, you say "how high"? But in terms of "welfare" who the h**l was looking after me for 9 yrs? The police (non-striking, do-what-I-say-when-I say-it, code of discipline) have the Police Federation to represent them in welfare matters.

Why not squaddies?

Now you know i hate agreeing with you, but the point is well made. Perhaps rather than a Union, an external body could be set up to solely administer welfare issues. It would have to be independent of MOD control or it will end up like the Police Complaints lot, hundreds of complaints, tiny percentage upheld, surprise, surprise.

The forces should have a (non-striking) Union following the example of the Police Fed. A few good reasons being:

1. Your 25 year old Div Officer gives you a crap write up - you know you deserved better. Points still mean prizes despite RORRS, so you (once again) miss out on promotion. Under our current Divisional system (devised in the mid 1800's), you have very limited powers of regress (ie. your complaint is first seen by the very twat who stitched you up in the first place!), an independant body you could turn to to...... well, almost mediate would be well worth a go in that situation - precisely how the Police Fed works now.

2. A Union could bring the plite of Service Wages more into the public domain. For example Nurses, Teachers (f@#k Firemen) all get their case aired on the 9 O'clock news round and about the time their annual pay award is discussed. We could benefit from the same rather than (hope) the AFPRB gives us a wedge for constantly being f@#k deployed 9 months out of the year.

I'm right. I know I am

Said with feeling Mick, said with feeling!

Actually, I did hear your Div Off. had seen your profile on Once a Marine and was offended that you didn't offer to suck his d**k!

Here here Mick... or should that be Hear hear Mick.... good point and well put. Well I'm listening anyway!

The current redress system has been revamped for the better as in you have to get written replys from each stage of the redress within a fixed amount of time. You canhowever, go to an industrial tribunal if you want. It is currently being done...