Alcoa and the loss of Aussie seafarers jobs

[j.sabourn]

Business is business, the rest is bullsh#t. There are always two sides to an argument. When it comes to unions which means an organized work force, big business is always going to be against, if a businessman has no control on a workers wages, then he stands to make a loss and will disappear. On the other hand an immoral businessman and there are plenty around uses his power of money to not treat his workforce fairly, who is going to stop him apart from an organised workforce. The media for starters are mainly pro business and will always give unions a bad press. They will always show the loud mouths shouting at Union rallys, there are plenty of moderate union people willing to and able to work with the so called dynamos of Industry, in the main however like the serf of old the boss wants total control of his workers to do with as he likes. One only has to look back through posts on here to see how history has shown both sides of the story in its different aspects. We do however live in what we have made and call a Democratic Society which means every man has a right to express his views. Also to withdraw his labour if he so desires. Never mind the rights of sociably unacceptable refugees and their rights which come second place to the natives of a country. There will always be a place for a union in my thoughts, maybe call it something else if the name offends some peoples thinking. If the present government in Australia has any intention of passing further legislation to allow the import of cheap labour into Australia under the guise it is for the good of the country, I wouldn't give them very good odds at the next election. Most western governments of old I would imagine their biggest fear of the Unions was the possibility of a General Strike which if allowed to go on for any length of time would most certainly bring the government down. The wealth of a nation is accrued through its workforce and not someone reaping in the benefits of others toil for their own personal ambitions. Australia was always known for its giving a fair days pay for a fair days work, long may it remain. Maybe the Tax department should take another look at their books and see who is paying what, and cut back on big business and the benefits it gets in the way of offshore accounts and other anomalies rather than taxing the worker who is the lifeblood of the country. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi All.
The present debate here in Australia is how to cut wages, overtime payments, weekend rates etc so I think this little piece in the paper says it all.
Why stop at penalty rates? It's been all downhill since weekends were introduced. Add to that other impediments to economic activity, such as eight hour days, health and safety, holidays, lunch breaks, untimed toilet breaks, and the crippling drain of providing drinking water to staff. For to long business owners have suffered the crippling burden of actually having to PAY someone to work for them. How much more productive we were before politically correct union thuggery existed to stop the economic boon of indentured servitude.
Think about it, we have ALL benefited from the advancement of Unions, without them make no mistake we would still be in servitude.

Cheers Des