trotskys twin wrote:
Sheep dip this thread is about Drivers needing to protect themselves in the event of being set up by some irriot or other the EU is covered elsewhere

I really did get the thread - not a problem.
I was just pointing out what a waste of money and space that many are, using the EU as a fine example as to how toothless they have become.
On many occasions you yourself have pointed out that so and so within a Union, is "Corrupt"/"Useless" etc. The people concerned are usually at the top of the tree in terms of stripes, and too stupid to cover their own back! Quite frankly, I would not be extolling the virtues of people who end up being caught themselves - needing representation.
My point being (and I am sure that we agree on this - there is a lot of corruption/uselessness within the Unions) and to my way of thinking - Not until the Unions turn the corner, (if ever), should you be banging the drum commending the false (not you) advertised benefits of joining any particular one Union - unless of course you have proof that they are
Nationally worthy of doing proper representation, (London maybe - Nationally it is something else).
The majority of these Unions will NOT go down the Law route, because it costs loads of money that they do not wish to spend. No doubt you will come back with "The Unions" have sols on a retainer/they are insured for sol work etc, but as you know that is NOT an open ended/overall free tool to use as and when. When you have that situation, then it is someone no more experienced than your average Joe who will be doing the representation - more often than not.....already in the pocket of the said company.
Even in the 1970s when the Unions were in their prime there was a reluctance to use/pay for "Proper" representation. The only time an individual will get that type of representation is if something really serious has happened ( a job loss, threat of job loss, or disciplinary would not come into that bracket). Just like a used car salesman/warranty they will promise the earth, in reality it is BS.