I lived through it, Lex.

I remember going to a union meeting at a local pub (late 70s), and was greeted with the phrase, "Good evening comrade!" The few members that had turned up were redder than a baboon's ar$e, politically. It was at that meeting that I understood why such silly and unrepresentative policies were being passed down to the rank and file.

Oddly enough, a few weeks later, the union (EETPU) were the very first to go with private health care, something I disagreed with.

I left my employment and went to work at a non union establishment. I tried to resign my union membership and they refused! I stopped paying my dues and was expelled after about 2 years!

I have never joined another union since.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti union, they have done a lot of good in the past. However, the members (all of them) need to take an active interest and participate or the looney fringes will take control.