Quite a few sitcoms of the 70's took the mickey out of trade unions. One or two 80's shows uphold the tradition, such as this episode of 'Cowboys'.
Joe Jones' gang are at work, when a man ( Fred Evans ) purporting to be a union official tries to sign them up for C.L.O.D. - the Confederation of Labourers, Odd-job Men, and Decorators. Wobbly and Eric do so, Geyser abstains. No sooner have they got their rule books than the lads go on strike for better pay and conditions. It later transpires that there is no C.L.O.D. - just a clever con-man at work...
The stereotypical depiction of unions as lazy good for nothings bent on causing trouble for their holier-than-thou bosses goes right back to the film 'I'm Alright Jack'. Television picked up on it, and as a result, almost every sitcom featured a regulation-obsessed square- head ( often played by the late Timothy Bateson ) who spoke as though he had a heavy cold. Perhaps the most insulting caricature of union men came in 'The Good Life' episode 'The Windbreak War' which gave the impression they were too thick to know what an 'N.B.' means. This 'Cowboys' episode is not quite as offensive, but it seems odd that Peter Learmouth was still putting the boot into unions a year after Labour left office.
Funniest moment - Wobbly telling the sad tale of how he took time off from his last job to attend a funeral, and did not receive any wages. He then points out that the funeral was for his boss!
Joe Jones' gang are at work, when a man ( Fred Evans ) purporting to be a union official tries to sign them up for C.L.O.D. - the Confederation of Labourers, Odd-job Men, and Decorators. Wobbly and Eric do so, Geyser abstains. No sooner have they got their rule books than the lads go on strike for better pay and conditions. It later transpires that there is no C.L.O.D. - just a clever con-man at work...
The stereotypical depiction of unions as lazy good for nothings bent on causing trouble for their holier-than-thou bosses goes right back to the film 'I'm Alright Jack'. Television picked up on it, and as a result, almost every sitcom featured a regulation-obsessed square- head ( often played by the late Timothy Bateson ) who spoke as though he had a heavy cold. Perhaps the most insulting caricature of union men came in 'The Good Life' episode 'The Windbreak War' which gave the impression they were too thick to know what an 'N.B.' means. This 'Cowboys' episode is not quite as offensive, but it seems odd that Peter Learmouth was still putting the boot into unions a year after Labour left office.
Funniest moment - Wobbly telling the sad tale of how he took time off from his last job to attend a funeral, and did not receive any wages. He then points out that the funeral was for his boss!