The new reforms may actually be good for some workers - assuming that the government is serious about restricting unpaid overtime. Many workers, especially professionals clock in 20 hours plus overtime each week. Theoretically this should create more jobs as it will take three people to do what two used to. Also theoretically my children might actually get to see more of their father or his income will be doubled. I won't hold my breath for it to happen in practise though.

It comes with no surprise that the Western Australian government have rewarded their top public servants with increases of up to $66 000 per year and a different set of Industrial Laws for this sector.

Our Governments and public servants should cringe in shame to expect the Average Australian to accept this obvious wealth and power movement that is creating an everlasting divide in our social structures at the expense of the majority.

It is a slap in the face to the non-degreed worker who also plays a very important, integral role in the whole work force food chain but is paid a pitance in recognition of their worth.

Each link and cog in this chain is important to moving each and every other compontent of the economy.

Management is ineffective without "people" who actually do the job.

Meanwhile our elected Treasurer will reward those payrises and persons who have already accumulated wealth by the suggestion of lowering of the "top tax rate", once again throwing a six dollar crumb to the Average Australian.

How many kicks in the face before Australians start realising that "Evil prospers where good men keep doing nothing."

OK All you mugs out there LISTEN UP!

Here is the end-game for John Howard's IR reforms (and all his ilk on the right-wing end of politics). This is REALLY what they want:
Skip all the intermediate steps (saves all the inconvenient "debating in Parliament" and argy bargy with Unions and lawyers) and go straight to this!

1. Abolish all benefits to all workers immediately. (John Howard has nearly done this to date)
2. Those who object to this, should be sacked immediately (and they already have been). They can try to find the money to fight a court case for "unlawful dismissal".
3. Immediately coerce (did I say that!) remaining employees into signing Australian Workplace Agreements that are internationally competitive (this is in the papers every week now); where pay rates will be matched with, and pegged to, those equivalent workers in India (and paid in Rupees) or China (and paid in Yuan).
4. Anyone who doesn't sign an AWA - refer to point 2 above.
5. Offer jobs to any/all of the following:
(a) sacked workers who have since applied to Centrelink (who will be refused unemployment benefits unless they take the job at the internationally competitive (lowest) pay rates on offer);
(b) migrants who aren't used to prior working conditions (John Howard is bringing them in by the boatload)
(c) any other worker in the world who will work for the internationally competitive (lowest) pay rates on offer.
6. Use the highest and lowest wages differential of USA as a benchmark. Aim to quadruple the spread by 2008 (unless the Rupee/AUD or Yuan/AUD is larger).
7. Anyone who complains about the government will be imprisoned for sedition or as a suspected terrorist under current draconian laws.

Think I'm joking? Read the newspapers again !

Results of above IR plan

Those who are left will:

1. Be referred to Centrelink who will refer them to 5(a) above.
2. If unsucessful, apply to nearest Charity (Smith Family/ St Vincent de Paul/ Salvation Army) who will be overwhelmed and under funded (since those in a job cannot afford to give to charity and those who can afford to give to a charity will say "let the bludgers starve").
3. Sell children to business owner who wants to provide employment for "youth unemployed". Promised to provide food & board in exchange for 20 hours, 7 days work a week.
4. Take up residence in nearest cardboard box (Eddy Avenue is full now).
5. Wonder whether it is worth continuing to live.

Exclusions to this plan are:

1. Sick, injured, infirm, old or mentally ill. They are not economically viable "production units" (see Ayn Rand: Atlas Shrugged; speech by John Galt) and should be eliminated immediately. Suggest they be "released into the community" and/or incarcerated in a prison. Possible alternative is the Auschwitz solution (Arbeit Macht Frei rule) for all.
2. Business Owners. They supply the capital and need to concentrate it at much as possible in the hands of the fewest. Hence the need to lower wages and conditions.
3. Politicians. These guys help re-engineer the society which will keep all the "production units" in production.

Welcome to the new IR WorkPlace !

What do we need laws for anyway ?

We could trust people not to commit crimes, murder, rape etc, and save a fortune on judges , prisons and the like. The criminal code costs money, damnit!

Alternatively, we could put our trust in big business always doing the right thing and remove all that annoying red tape holding them back. HIH could have done so much more without the intervention of pesky company laws.

We could put our trust in Kevin Andrews. In fact, with the new workplace laws it is in Kevin we trust, because Big Kev has the power to interfere in every workplace , wherever and whenever he likes.

I feel so much freer than I did a few weeks ago.

I will trust that my boss will make decisions that are right for the organisation they are charged to lead. Those decisions will not always be right for me. Sometimes they won't be right because my boss is a bastard. Who can I trust then ?

The sting in the tail in the new IR laws is not just for the worker... Johnny has actually pooped on his own constituency the bosses.

Every boss under these laws now needs to keep detailed records of every employee's (including his own) work hours for up to seven years or large fines apply.

But there is more ... Because the bosses have to keep a record of every single hour a worker works then the workers now have a record available to their lawyers to sue for unpaid overtime or unpaid work for up to 6 years (in Qld.) into the future after an employee leaves. Not paying people for their labours is actually illegal.

If we can trust the bureau of stats here

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c00834efa/923ec292aba44932ca2570ec00006ee7!OpenDocument

We Aussies are working quite a deal of unpaid overtime ... but soon the bosses will have a record of it to prove these statistics.

So averaging 4 hours X $10 p.h. for 48 weeks x 6 years = $11,520 of unpaid work in 6 years. Worth going for?

Not only are workers worse off under these laws but so are the bosses. Is nicking off with the secretary work? Workcase scenario ... disgruntled ex secretary, ex lover of boss, sues for unpaid hours, bosses records show secretary was working not canoodaling... what a hoot! This will put motels out of business...lol They too keep records!

The Libs/Nats have stuffed it for the Australian worker, stuffed it for the bosses & are helping to encourage every dismissed worker to join a Union and put in a claim for any unpaid hours for up to 6 years. Union solicitors could be doing a lot of litigation work in the future some of it quite titilating too.

I'd pay the Union $2000 if I stood to get back $9520 wouldn't you?

If I was a Lawyer I'd join a Union...ha!

Onya Libs