Unions charge like wounded bulls for their services. 

And they claim they're in it for the workers. 

They care about workers' pay and conditions so much, they're worked their way up the union ranks to help those at the bottom.

But then once they get a bit of profile. They jump ship to the Labour party, their good mates. 

Craif Rennie - flits between the CTU and Grant Robertson's office - has been selected to run in Wellington Bays. 

Fleur Fitzsimons - who tried but failed to get elected for Labour. She's surely trying to weasel her way back on to a list. 

Michael Wood - he wants back in. 

You see, Unions are simply not the premiere league. They're the equivalent of the bench for Labour's caucus. 

It's the place you go to keep your profile up while you wait for another turn at sucking from the public tit. 

There's nothing particularly wrong with this. 

But if you're a low-wage worker who believes these people are your champions and are in for you. For negotiating hard with your employers. For doing the mahi. 

And then you realise, actually, they've just been using your plight to feather their nest at the beehive, wouldn't you be a bit pissed off? 

Not all union members are Lefties. Sure, many of them are. 

But most just want a fair deal and decent spokesperson. 

Not a bunch of political wannabes doing dress ups waiting for their time in the national spotlight. 

Unions charge like wounded bulls for their services.&nbsp;
And they claim they're in it for the workers.&nbsp;
They care about workers' pay and conditions so much, they're worked their way up the union ranks to help those at the bottom.
But then once they get a bit of profile. They jump ship to the Labour party, their good mates.&nbsp;
Craif Rennie - flits between the CTU and Grant Robertson's office - has been selected to run in Wellington Bays.&nbsp;
Fleur Fitzsimons - who tried but failed to get elected for Labour. She's surely trying to weasel her way back on to a list.&nbsp;
Michael Wood - he wants back in.&nbsp;
You see, Unions are simply not the premiere league. They're the equivalent of the bench for Labour's caucus.&nbsp;
It's the place you go to keep your profile up while you wait for another turn at sucking from the public tit.&nbsp;
There's nothing particularly wrong with this.&nbsp;
But if you're a low-wage worker who believes these people are your champions and are in for you. For negotiating hard with your employers. For doing the mahi.&nbsp;
And then you realise, actually, they've just been using your plight to feather their nest at the beehive, wouldn't you be a bit pissed off?&nbsp;
Not all union members are Lefties. Sure, many of them are.&nbsp;
But most just want a fair deal and decent spokesperson.&nbsp;
Not a bunch of political wannabes doing dress ups waiting for their time in the national spotlight.&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Ryan Bridge: Political wannabe's come from unions

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/909267d1-e2e3-4483-a407-b39e011add7c/transcript