The future Prime Minister, John Howard.Seriously, I'm not imagining things, am I? Hasn't the Coalition being advocating a performance-based pay system for teachers for ages?
Oh that's right, it has.
While I'm on politics, my suspicion is that the $27 per week rise in the minimum wage granted by the 'Fair Pay Commission' is a move by the government to take the wind out of Labor's sails on what promises to be the main issue at the 2007 election. They have already referred to the granting of the rise as the "final nail in the coffin" of the anti-'WorkChoices' campaign. I don't think we'll be seeing such generosity after the election; after all, that's not what big business paid for.
The rise of $27 in the weekly minimum wage is apparently just sufficient to keep pace with inflation. The Australian Industry Group had called for a rise of only $14.
6 comments:
I do like it how John Howard claimed a $30 rise would cost 300,000 jobs, yet A $27.36 rise is completely different story.
It's the $2.64 that would've killed jobs, no employer has that kind of money.
It's probably slightly above inflation, which is good, especially for those whose wages haven't changed since April 2005, but still below real-world-minimum-wage-inflation (the one that gives the large increases in the cost of essentials more weight than the large decreases in luxuries - which just happens to be more important to those on these wages.)
But it is not comforting when people are surprised at what the new wage dictator determines as fair. Perhaps they've shot themselves in the foot putting those who look to God instead of economic models in charge of wages (God must have somehow passed on a message of HELP THEM this round), or perhaps Heather 'Starve the Poor' Ridout is right - and it's a PR decision designed to go down well with the community and "build public confidence" in the commission, and to hell with business.
No one was shocked at the AIRC wage decisions, it was methodical, balanced and sane. The Fair Pay Commission seems be be spontaneous, outrageous, and thus far, thankfully, fair - and kudos to them for that.
But damn, what a fine example of rampant spin from Combet, Labor, Liberal, and the AIG!
Yeah that was some nice work by govt to get some runs on the battler board - esp since the 'race to the bottom' for salaries for semi skilled industries has now begun.
BTW - as the only paid up member of the ALP in blogland - as best I can tell - I once again have to stick up for kimmie. Yes it shits me how he has to play for the mcmansion seeking swingers that dominate who gets in with his continued references to 'middle australia' but there's still way more sane people friendly policies in the ALP ready to roll out than Howard has. eg Collective bargaining, Kyoto, proper skills program that didn't result in phantom technical colleges like the fucking Liberals announced (seen one running yet? No....).
Maintain the rage comrades. But remember. Uncle Kimmy is not Howard - even if he has to sound like him sometimes so thick headed mcmansion types need to hear the message.
it's not a wage rise. 30$ would have just kept up with inflation, ignoring the price increases on fresh foods lately. so no, the 'wage rise' isn't even keeping up with inflation.
it's how things work. workers want more pay because things cost more. the media, who work for the people the workers want more money from, portray it as a 'wage hike' totally out of the context of inflation and people who think they're safe go, '$30 bloody dollars? what do they need that for eh?'.
and damn it mikey, you sound like princess amidala banging on about how her little ani still has some good in him. he'll choke you like a bitch, but it'll be too late. he's turned, if he hasn't been evil all along.
just winning isn't enough, it has to be on the right terms. it is naive to believe that beazley's just pretending so he can get in and do the right thing. if you want moral, honest government, why on earth do you think you'll get it from someone who'll do anything to win?
there are plenty of good people in the labor party, just as in the liberal party. supporting labor is not the same as supporting kim.
He's more (factional) machine now than man. Twisted and evil.
just winning isn't enough, it has to be on the right terms. it is naive to believe that beazley's just pretending so he can get in and do the right thing. if you want moral, honest government, why on earth do you think you'll get it from someone who'll do anything to win?
Nah, I disagree. Kim B is his own man. When he's in office all the machine faction crap that got him there will be a distant memory - you'll see !
(CLUTCHES KIM SOFT PLUSHIE CLOSE TO CHEST)
"Kim B is his own man."
that's what i'm afraid of.
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