I believe that trade unions have been necessary over the years. If you go back in time, history will confirm that if trade unions did not exist, workers would have been abused, disadvantaged, exploited and treated unfairly by their employers. This is undeniable.However, sometimes I think that they have outlived their quantity of usefulness. I could be wrong to suggest that we no longer need trade unions; because every now and then a stupid employer says or does something that makes right thinking people cringe and makes the case for retaining trade unions.One example is when organisations have two sets of rules, one for managers and higher ups; and another set of rules for the staff. That is absolute nonsense and has to stop. But for the most part, employers are doing right by their staff and I submit that to a large extent the pendulum shifted during the 1990s, to the extent that many employees were exploiting their employers.Evidence of this to me is sick leave, which is just too high in many organisations, and employees having a sense of entitlement to take their eight sick days each year whether they are sick or not. This is just wrong. Sick days are for when you’re really sick or your child is really sick. They are not to be added to your bank of vacation days to make for a larger total of days you are entitled to be off. GEEESH! The fact that I have to type this makes me shake my head and speaks to one of the effects that unions have had on workers. Unions have given workers a sense of entitlement.Unions have caused employees to ask what their employer can do for them; not what they can do for their employer. Let’s be real, the employer is hiring so they have their pick of the litter; especially now, IF any employer is hiring. So really, the employee, at the beginning of the relationship, is the one who needs to make the impression, not the employer. Sorry but it is what it is.Too large a percentage of our workforce, through the strength of the unions and through companies making too much money for several years to stand firm against the unions, act like companies owe them something and that organisations should implement policies that benefit employees more than they benefit the organisations. Absolute nonsense.One of my pet lines is that ”every employee would be a model employee if they owned a business for just three months and had to deal with the nonsense that employers have to deal with on a daily basis from unions and employees“.Here’s an example of how unions have brainwashed some people. I was chatting with an older gentleman the other day, who wanted to know how and why I could still be in my office at 6.30pm on a Friday evening. The gentleman was stunned and could not fathom the concept. He thinks that you should be able to get all your work done during the allotted time and should not have to work extra. He also thinks it’s wrong to work through your lunch break. I agree with him that you should leave your desk or work area for a little while from time to time to refresh yourself, but I disagree with the rest of his beliefs on the subject.I told him that I understand his view, but that nobody ever got to the top of any organisation or field of endeavour by working 8am to 4pm, 9am to 5pm or just the hours mandated by the union or employment contract. The people that get ahead are those who work extra, don’t mind staying late, coming in early. The people that get the promotions are the ones who take on the extra work, are most responsive, are available when the boss needs something; not the people who race out the door the second the day stops; not the mason who starts cleaning his tools at 3.30pm to ensure that he finishes work by 4pm. That guy remains a mason forever. The dudes, regrettably nowadays often guest workers, who come in early, stay late, keep plastering until all the mortar is used and don’t just throw it away at 4pm and fill block with it, become foremen, superintendents. It really is that simple.This, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am calling a UNION MENTALITY. This work-to-rule is the kind of union mentality that will stop people from obtaining upward mobility. All the work-to-rule and union mentality does is piss off employers and do you think people who are pissed off want to promote you? All the union mentality does is ensure that you will always be a worker; never a manager, successful business owner, etc.There are no jobs today for workers who harbour and practice a UNION MENTALITY. These are not the high-flyers in organisations. It’s just an old, passe, dated ethos and the global economy in which we all live and work has said that there is no role for it. The only thing that a UNION MENTALITY does is make sure that organisations make less profit, are less efficient, less effective and practice poor customer service. These are the types of organisations doomed to fail. Peace...DJLT.And now………..THE TOP 20Holding at #1 is Gangnam Style by PSY, the hottest song in the world at the moment. Up to #2 is One More Night by Maroon 5, a pop anthem that is both catchy and real.Tumbling to #3 is Scream by Usher, a popular dance track. Falling to #4 is I Can Only Imagine by David Guetta featuring Chris Brown and L’il Wayne. Falling to #5 is No Lie by 2 Chains featuring Drake, one of the hottest rap tracks in circulation and involving an all-star cast.Making a massive jump five spaces to #6 is Rihanna’s latest hit, Diamonds. There are so many versions and varieties of this song that I’m not sure which one is the best. Rihanna ROCKS!Slipping into the #7 spot this week is All Around the World, a popular dance track by teenage heartthrob Justin Bieber. Slipping to #8 is a former essential new tune, Whistle, by Flo Rida.Down to #9 is Lights by Ellie Goulding, a steady and popular dance hit. Tumbling to #10 is This Is Love by will.i.am. Dropping to #11 is Mercy by Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz. On its way up at # 12 it’s Heels On by Lady Saw a catchy reggae love song.Tumbling to #13 is Heatwave by Wiley. Falling to #14 it’s Give Thanks by Christopher Martin. Falling to #15 is Pop Queen Rihanna’s other longstanding hit, Where Have You Been? Up to #16 is She Wolf by David Guetta featuring Sia. Improving to #17 is last week’s must have new track, Die Young by Ke$haNow this week’s essential new track, Let Me Love You (Until you Learn to Love Yourself) by Ne-Yo, in at #18. This hit starts off slow but reaches a climax later on in the form of an inspirational and up-tempo dance track. New at #19 is a monster hip hop hit, Girl On Fire, by Alicia Keys featuring Nicki Minaj. Another new hit pop single, Locked Out Of Heaven, by Bruno Mars, joins the list at #20. Christmas is a good time for music; there are always a ton of new and hot songs just recently out on the market. Enjoy...