Depends on what you mean by a "hard days labour". If you mean by working in a dangerous industry where physical health and safety is a big, big issue, then fair enough - you're right. All the jobs I've had so far are pretty much white collar. To us, a "hard days work" means you solved some really difficult problems and the biggest risk is not death but litigation. I suspect, as you say, I'll not likely be in a job that will experience "danger" as you put it.
But if you mean I'm in some molly-coddled position where I don't lift a finger and expect the world to rotate around me while getting paid for it, then you're sorely mistaken.
I'm glad that unions have come through for your friends and family. In fact, to a greater degree since it seems unions are necessary in lines of work where people are at risk of significant cripple or death, which quite frankly means whatever industries those are seem to have a rather flippant attitude to safety and well-being, and should be called out on that, not just in a union arena, but on a larger scale, e.g. reported to governments and law enforcement agencies.
Unions are supposed to help in my line of work (as I've been told) mainly if we get sued. But having sat in a (previous, not current) union meeting, the attitude of the leadership is very concerning. I've also had stories of colleagues and friends who have obtained no help from unions (especially in the case of whistleblowing), and in some cases they themselves have uncovered underhanded dealings within the union but are powerless to report or expose that behaviour for fear of reprisal, bullying or physical threat.
Finally, no one should be bullied into joining the union, even where the union and hence union membership is known to be plentifully useful. I'm lucky that at my workplace that no one is bullied nor made to feel inferior if they choose not to join the union. I remember when VSU was introduced, there were several stories (never mainstream, of course - they were usually squashed by the perpetrators) on campus of verbal and physical threats against some people who wanted to opt out of student union membership. One such victim was a friend of mine who resolved to move to another city and transfer to another university than remain and risk her life and professional future.
Seriously? One word, it didn't change the intent of your quote and I didn't even go to town against you on it, and you're going to get sensitive about it?
As for altering your quotes, I can't see where I've misquoted or changed your tack........
