3 ms·

I want to go after the presumption that representation foments division. It's an American-made idea and it's not a good one. Take it out and throw it in the bin

I want to go after the presumption that representation foments division. It's an American-made idea and it's not a good one. Take it out and throw it in the bin. Denmark has two thirds of its workforce under a union. I'm not hostile with my employers and I don't need my union representing me 99 percent of the time. If I have a problem I talk directly to my managers like a {woman, man, transperson}. It's only when my workplace is doing something illegal or trying to screw me that I first go to my union for advice and only after, if their advice hasn't worked, would I ever consider letting my union speak for me. That's how all Danes do it here. And it works out fine for everyone. So please reconsider this no-good, destructive idea that underlies this logical fallacy. The fact is that leadership by its nature as leadership, wields power. Workers under leaders need help to protect from gross abuses of power that arise from wielding power.

damagednoob 6y ago
> It's an American-made idea and it's not a good one. Take it out and throw it in the bin. Actually, I think your comment belongs in the bin. No one was making generalisations until you stepped in. Denmark may be this unionised Utopia that everyone can learn from (I doubt it) but unions in other countries (e.g. UK, South Africa) can exhibit these counter-productive behaviours as described.
JoBrad 6y ago
Maybe you mean for white collar workers? The separation between blue collar management and employees is very old: it’s in verses of “We wish you a Merry Christmas”, and is even discussed in the Bible.
- KSteffensen 6y ago
  I'm also Danish. My dad is a blacksmith, about as blue-collar as it gets, and he would agree with the above representation. It wasn't so in the past, but for the past 100 years or so, co-operation between unions and employers has been mostly constructive. This is not a Utopia as some other commenters are saying. It's perfectly achievable if both sides acknowledge they need the other and are willing to discuss issues in good faith.

damagednoob 6y ago

> It's an American-made idea and it's not a good one. Take it out and throw it in the bin. Actually, I think your comment belongs in the bin. No one was making generalisations until you stepped in. Denmark may be this unionised Utopia that everyone can learn from (I doubt it) but unions in other countries (e.g. UK, South Africa) can exhibit these counter-productive behaviours as described.

JoBrad 6y ago

Maybe you mean for white collar workers? The separation between blue collar management and employees is very old: it’s in verses of “We wish you a Merry Christmas”, and is even discussed in the Bible.

KSteffensen 6y ago
I'm also Danish. My dad is a blacksmith, about as blue-collar as it gets, and he would agree with the above representation. It wasn't so in the past, but for the past 100 years or so, co-operation between unions and employers has been mostly constructive. This is not a Utopia as some other commenters are saying. It's perfectly achievable if both sides acknowledge they need the other and are willing to discuss issues in good faith.