Academics castigate work laws.

[Matilda]

"Though unique in the world and without a single redeeming feature,
the Federal Government's workplace changes are already set in stone,
Sydney University's professor of industrial law, Ron McCallum, said
in a scathing assessment of the new rules.

(snip)

"His comments came as 151 economics, management, business, law, and
psychology and industrial relations academics attacked the new laws
yesterday. Professor McCallum was particularly scathing about
provisions under the new laws in which employers may refuse to
negotiate with unions even if a majority of workers voted for union
representation. Workers have this right in the US, Britain, Europe,
Japan and New Zealand."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/academics-castigate...


It seems that only Howard and the corporations are in favour of these
laws, which will rank us with the third world in terms of workers'
rights.

And not a peep out of Coalition ministers or backbenchers - they're
either as vicious as Howard, or just running scared. Either way,
they all deserve to be voted out at the next election.

[PinkUnicorn]

1. I'd say scared

It's always been hard to tell with the Liberal backbenchers.

The actual ministers are a lineup of suckholes, toadies and sleazes, but its hard to tell with the backbench.

They don't raise a peep and all follow like drones no matter how ridiculous something is. Some probably are just lesser crawlers I agree, but for the most part, given the spiteful vindictiveness of Jackboot Johnny, I suspect he either has something over them (blackmail) or has promised to destroy them if they dare question him.

[Matilda]

2. I have a feeling it's the promise of instant destruction.

But where does that leave them when their electorates realise they've
been well and truly shafted? These laws aren't just going to
affect blue collar unionists - just as the rights that have been
won by unions, such as increases in annual leave, maternity and
carers leave, have spread throughout the whole work force, so will
the cuts become the norm for everyone.

I have read that polls show 70% disapproval, so that's not going to
be good at election time if some of these toadies can't find a bit
of backbone and stick up for their constituents.

[PinkUnicorn]

3. Unfortunatly...

But where does that leave them when their electorates realise they've been well and truly shafted? These laws aren't just going to affect blue collar unionists - just as the rights that have been won by unions, such as increases in annual leave, maternity and carers leave, have spread throughout the whole work force, so will the cuts become the norm for everyone


Sadly, the idea of 'a fair go for all' died a long time ago. Now it's all "Me! Me! Me! And f**k everyone else". Most probably don't care that some get shafted as long as they leave with their golden handshake and get a shoe in for a cushy job (Ambassador, special envoy or something). Like the 'free trade' agreement - amazing how quickly some of the pushers in government ended up on boards of multinationals one the paper was signed.

As for the rules applying across the board - not a chance. Politicians, executives and other high flyer's will ensure that _their_ benefits are not cut, in the same vein as when they say they are worth $10,000,000 a year for keeping a chair warm and wrecking things (Paging Trujillo and his amigos). When was the last time you saw a government vote to have its pay cut or privileges removed?

[Matilda]

4. Of course the big guys will be exempt.

That's one of the most unfair things - failed CEOs walk away with
tens of millions of dollars, but ordinary workers have to make
sacrifices for the good of the economy!

What I'm thinking of are people who hold lower-order white collar
jobs - secretaries, clerks, and especially office juniors. I think
they will in time find many of their benefits being eroded as well.
And that's quite a lot of people overall.

[no safe haven]

5. The union movement in Oz is about to take its last gasp

...if Johnny ‘Fair Go’ and that weasel Kevin Andrews have their way.

I heard Greg Combet the other day on ABC radio say that unions would be required to go through the Electoral Commission before taking any industrial action. The reason: to ensure that the ballot would be a secret one. This process would likely take somewhere up to 10 days, essentially bringing to a halt any industrial action. Not to mention the cost of same. Slime Andrews had the unmitigated gall to say he was protecting union members from bullies within their own unions. What a champion. Not.

Maybe MPs should go through the Electoral Commission before they take a vote in the House. Ensure secrecy. Don’t want any Lib bully boys unduly influencing backbench MPs votes. In fact, I think we should demand it. Secret ballots in the House and Senate. After all, this IR shite is supposed to be all about a ‘fair go’ for everyone, no?

This Coalition cabal in Canberra has undone/spat on almost everything this country stands for, flushed all working Australians’ sweat and toil of the past 200+ years down the dunny. People like Howard are of the same ilk that dished out the same garbage to my convict ancestors. Later generations fought hard and suffered long to ensure equity for working Australians, and now Howard waves it away like it’s some unpleasant smell he’s had to endure. Fair go my arse!!

[Matilda]

6. The more we learn, the worse it gets.

Howard is definitely out to destroy the trade union movement, and
the people it will affect are just pawns. It's all about idealogy,
not people; government of the people by the corporations Howard
serves.

Labor has to get its teeth into this one and not let go - it's the
one issue that might just see Labor get in next time, even with
Beazley leading. (Or is that an oxymoron?)

[no safe haven]

7. Hey Matilda

I hope to god you’re right and Beazley tries to steer us out of this nightmare. What choice does he have? What other cause does he have left to campaign on? He and his right wing faction have sold us out on just about every other crucial issue. Let’s face it, most of them are corporatists/globalists, all serving the same master.

As a client state (of the US), Australia does not have much leeway to act in our own best interests, no matter who is leader. With Old Labor, at least we serfs were the beneficiaries of a larger piece of the common wealth, decent wages and working conditions. The Libs would sell their own mothers and daughters to the highest bidder if it improved the bottom line. Howard has sold us all for 10 pieces of silver (seasonally adjusted to the CPI) and a side order of crumbs.

About 8 years ago I saw a sign painted on the roadway just outside Byron Bay: "We live in a society, not in an economy." I believe the polies need to think on this.