#151, i am an electrician, if i wish to work on a new build site say a hospital, i would need a j.i.b card or theses days an ecs card, no card no job, the cost £35 per three years, with a trade test before (payable of course) you can apply for grading and your card. i think gas fitters have to do the same, and if you wish to be self employed as an electrician then being Part P qualified counts as well. no part p then you cannot by law install electrics into kitchens or bathrooms.....................so paying to do your job is still about, and i do belive private hire taxi drivers have to pay their office an amount before they receive jobs over the radio.

That's why I said 'fees to a non professional organisations' there is of course requirements in some jobs to belong organisations which involve particular qualifications and where legislation requires it..

However workers unions do not come under such.

would you either have a jack of all trades or a qualified person doing the job.

That rather depends on the job, I would have thought that someone who could drill a hole in steel, could do the same in wood and it doesn't take much skill to do up a nut and bolt.

I worked in a factory making ship's gangways and accommodation ladders anything from 28' to 68' along with their platforms in aluminium and steel, if a job required a particular skill it was done by those with the skill, there was no demarcation as such.