Interesting point, Mahatma Duck. One of the best jobs I have ever had, and certainly the best available (most suitable) at that time, allowed me to work three 13 hour shifts with a four day weekend. It allowed me to get the bill paying obligations out of the way in short time and get on with other projects more dear to my heart.

The change from 8 to 10 hour shifts in your town is likely to come with a 3 day weekend. So while there may be some disruption of existing schedules there is also a very valuable trade-off that you chose not to mention.

The real value of these reforms will be felt at the very depth of the next recession when the rate of company failures is shown to be less than under previous recessions.

The continued survival of companies, and the jobs of both managers and employees, may well be purchased with reduced pay, reduced hours, or both. But if you have ever seen the devastation that is caused to a one industry town by company failure, you would know that a system that compells fixed conditions in every sort of circumstance is nothing but a cruel, cynical form of Russian Roulette. The chances may only be one in six but if the number comes up then the result is devastating.

And it is no small irony that it is the one industry towns that run the highest risks under the existing system because economies contract most at the periphery. Unlike urban job loss, there is no alternative jobs just up the road. If the company fails the town dies and there is nothing left to restart when conditions improve.

They have most to gain by a framework that allows them to survive the downturns and make good when the economy turns around. This system doesn't force any outcome on worplaces that don't need it. But those that do need it can use it.

Yobbo commented along the lines that, simple economics would show that the employers would put the profits back into the business therefore create more products etc. What I see is, that, should the worker not have money to spend after living costs, then there will not be much of a sustainable economy. You cannot spend what you do not have. Maybe the 'Company' or business will buy product as they need it,but who do they sell their goods to? The economy cannot grow.

Re the comment of seeing an elderly person cleaning tables in a cafe, is that what you want to see in Australia? People who have worked hard all their lives actually tire, physically weaken and AGE. There are few people in their 70's who could sustain the agility and speed needed to work in a cafe etc. Community means looking after those who cannot look after themselves, are we now so heartless that we have no respect for our elders, for the weak etc?

I witnessed first hand similar practices in the USA, with many elderly people working in places such as Walmart purely to pay for their medication and healthcare. These people are NOT working for the love of the job, they are working to live. This, at a time when they should be able to enjoy their golden years. My husband worked (In the USA) with a man of 76 in a cut throat sales job just to pay for his wife's cancer drugs. This is not rare, rather it is becoming the norm. The Australia I love would not expect nor would the majority want to see such practices here. Modelling ourselves on a system that is not working such as the USA is rather dangerous and pointless.

There have been comments made about workers expecting handouts. Workers are called workers because they WORK. We all just want a fair days pay for a fair days work

Goebells mastered the art of portraying the unpalatable, the wicked, and outright evil as being a good thing for Germany. There was no truth or merit in the spin he put on Nazi atrocities. I think it is a shame you cant understand the analogy. PS insult and abuse me all you like, i expect nothing less from your ilk.

"Modelling ourselves on a system that is not working such as the USA is rather dangerous and pointless."

Not working? The USA has the worlds strongest economy, highest GDP, highest PPP per Capita, strongest culture, highest Average wage, one of the lowest unemployment rates, blah blah blah. Need I go on?

If that's "not working", you must have a funny definition of it.

What is it that you really hate about the USA? The fact that they thought of everything good before you did?

By the way, just because the US doesn't have medicare doesn't mean that it's health system is poor. On the contrary, it has one of the best health systems in the world. The only catch is you have to remember to set aside some of your income and put it towards health insurance, because the government isn't going to force you to do it.

The fact that Americans pay 50% less tax and have 50% higher wages than Australians means that they can more than afford the cost of health insurance. Not having insurance and then complaining when you have to pay a lot when you get sick isn't really the fault of anyone except yourself.

So you can bash the US system all you like, but the fact is you're wrong and the easy way to tell is to look at emigration and business statistics.

How many Americans emigrate to live and work overseas? Not very many. How many people from all over the world stream into America every year to take part in their system that you say "doesn't work"?

In summation, if all you know about the USA is what you learned from watching ER and Michael Moore documentaries, then you should probably expand your reading list, because - and you may find this hard to believe - the vast majority of people in the world look up to the United States, and those countries who have tried hardest to emulate its success are now the most successful in their own right.

Yobbo, I am not American bashing for the fun of it, nor do I comment soley from watching American TV shows. I comment from a base of having lived there until recently. My comments arise from fact.

Having seen, witnessed and lived within the system. I refute your comments on the health system and wages. The health CARE itself is fantastic, and that was not my point. It is only available to those with money - we were paying $600 per month for my husband to have medical cover, we could not afford for me to be included. Many with private health insurance still have to mortgage their homes just to have medical treatment. A friend with health cover, had a heart attack and two days in hospital his out of pocket expenses were $158,000. The average worker cannot afford to get sick in the USA. Our GP only charged us $100 per visit with the average in our city of $200 to $300 a visit. Children often miss out on medical treatment as their parents cannot afford it.

The average wage being high is a nonsense. Most of the jobs in sales, general office administration, lower management, blue collar average between $5.00 per hour to $10.00 per hour. Many of the large retail chains pay $6.50 to $7.50 for top salespeople, with a minimum sales reached before any extra in commission is offered. In quiet times, a person may only take home $1,500.00 a month. Many people cannot support their families, and often need to work 3 jobs just to survive. Many firms also bargain with 'vacation time' and pressure staff to not take the time owing, and bully staff with comments such as 'you are not loyal to the company if you take this time' Just check Walmart court actions to verify some of my claims. Some states in the USA are broke as they have lost most of their manufacturing industries.

I question why you are so defensive when I have pointed out factual events. Statistics mean nothing when your children are hungry and you are broke

“Not working? The USA has:

“the worlds strongest economy” – and some of the worst working conditions

“highest PPP per Capita” – as with most statistical information, this is easy to quote when 5% own 85% of the wealth.

“strongest culture” – and this has what to do with economics? Besides, do you define strong culture as the largest producer of pornography? The largest producer of weapons? The highest number of serial killers? The highest usage of cosmetic surgery? (None having to do with economics but great indicators for culture…)

“one of the lowest unemployment rates” – as most have to work 2 -4 jobs to stay afloat, I guess this is easy too?

“highest Average wage” – Wrong!

“blah blah blah” – pretty well sums up your arguments…

“need I go on?” – not really…