Union Bollocks

I am a civil servant. When I started work for my employer (HM Land Registry) I decided to join the union (PCS).

Although I have no problems with the local executive as they tend not to get in the way like most unions do (We're an I.T. provider so they all understand the concept of "change"), I've been getting more and more disturbed by the left-wing ethos of my union as a whole (or all unions for that matter).

It's looking like we'll be going on strike for something completely unconnected to our workplace (or our entire organisation for that matter). Although we're classed as civil servants, we're part of a trading fund so are isolated from the rest of the civil service. However they still expect us to strike for them.
The government wants to make some civil servants redundant where they aren't needed and rather than providing evidense that they clearly are needed (if indeed they are) the union just wants to go on strike.
I don't see the point of striking over pay or redundancies. Strike action should be reserved for extreme circumstances such as dangerous working practices that put staff at risk or similar. And I certainly don't believe in sympathy striking. The civil service is an enormous employer, why should I be expected to stop working because DEFRA is overstaffed? It has fuck all to do with me!

That's not the reason why I'm thinking of jacking my membership in though. This is.

What the link doesn't say is that the union will be campaigning in all areas of the country where the BNP is a threat.

I will make this next point very clear: I think the BNP are scum. As a result I will never ever vote for them.

I don't want my union (that I pay a subscription to) spending money on campaigning against a political party. They are a union, not a political party. They are meant to use their resources to serve their members interests not act as a lobby group for their own political views.

The BNP are entitled to their beliefs and opinions like anyone else (no matter how wrong they are - which they clearly are as they differ to mine). It is only if they incite a criminal act (e.g. Shout 'Bomb, Bomb Pakistan' or 'Bomb, Bomb India' during a march) that they should be stopped and describing Islam as 'a wicked faith' hardly does this.

If the turnouts are as low as predicted (18%) then it is indeed likely that the far right will benefit.

However if the BNP get voted in to your area because you can't be bothered to get off your arse to put a cross on a piece of paper then you deserve everything you get. Why should my money be wasted on this?

On a slightly different note I decided today that I'm a Liberal Capitalist. I'm thinking about setting up my own political party as I don't think there's an existing one that shares my core belief:

"Let's make it work better - providing it's legal, we don't care how"

Any takers? First volunteer gets to be Shadow Chancellor.