Belly I've been in the workforce for many years and the only people who have ever threatened my "Rights at work" have been unionists or management figures with close ties to the ALP.

I worked in the Queensland electricity industry during the Joh era and my observation is that Beatty treated workers with far more contempt than Joh ever managed to. A situation made worse by the unions failure to do anything which might hurt the ALP politically.

It's more likely the end of my rights at work and the beginning of union dominated thuggery in the workplace.

R0bert

DEMOS we need to talk , your comments have the heavy weight of about one quart of one percent backing you.
My posts are at least informed and about real problems for real people.
One single day before workchoices casual loaded rate for casual day labour on one country construction site was $21.80 per hour, all personal protective clothing supplied no safety concerns.
One week after workchoices same site, every current casual and the firm employing them went of site.
Same prime contractor ,once a valued and respected firm took the lowest tender.
Wages casual loaded now? $17.40! a fight for any ppe[ clothing gloves ext]
Your often stated wish for democracy and less people in the world ,is that based on starving workers to death?
In truth I usually try that extra little bit to see other posters viewpoint but can find no value or understanding in your last effort.
Sorry no backward stepping, my members would not want me to what point are you trying to make? that workers should not have rights?
I was not far wrong in my pre poll expectations and you will find in asking for fairness in the workplace my claims are based on true conditions that exist today and the wants and wishes of part time workers.

Belly, I voted for a Rudd-Labor government, not a 'far-left' Labor government - there is a difference and I think you should have enough humility to, if not understand it, accept it.

Any prognostications about sticking it to the right wing of politics will not help our (Labor) cause.

Please understand Belly, it is NOT about right/left, unions/capitalists, us/them, etc.

Rudd has won this election by reasonably and rationally arguing a case for a future under new leadership (and Howard/Costello lost it for relying on the 'old' way of doing things).

If you are going to be representative of the extreme 'left' of Labor, it will note bode well for the future Rudd has vision for or what the people that voted for him now expect. There is plenty of work to be done, not least building on the tentative faith that many in Oz have given a Rudd-Labor government.

This faith in Rudd-Labor has not been given to the trade unions per se. The sooner you realise this and the sooner you temper your exuberance (whilst I share this with you) the better.

Summary: put a sock in it!

QxA hold your self accountable for that idiotic post!
If read others posts before commenting you will find the truth I am from center unity Labors right!
My union is from that faction.
My greatest fear! is not the broken conservative rabble.
It is the extreme left of my party and my union movement.
Do you understand Howard's battlers have been victims of workchoices?
Present award says 20 or 25% loading on casual wages, remember some only get one day a week work, yet are not considered unemployed.
Tell me about evil unions but understand it did not sell with voters.
Rudd is the man I have sold here from his first day as leader, an honest country first leader, he will be mainstream and bring back to us voters from both left and right.
HOWEVER some Australians still need help at work, bloody hell how can you not see in my calling for Robo that workchoices was not a leftist battle?
I know it now was unions greatest fight ever and it is the turning point for the union movement.
Good unions will one day have the guts to stand away from the idiots in union shirts how do not understand our job is workers rights nothing else.
Q,A would you want your job to be made casual? never a paid day of? not knowing if you get one days work or none this week?
your rights at work is a battle that continues forever.
My tools are not strikes or street March's it is debate and two way talking once an Aussie would not find fault in asking for a fair go for those who need it, believe it or not no boss has ever called me a thug and no way I ever intend to be.
By the way it is my view till death having not picked Robo to lead the ACTU is as useless as tits on a bull , left my bottom mate.

Whoa, temper your tantrums … your beginning to sound like some other obsessive compulsive on OLO that rants on incessantly.

Ok Belly, I am an idiot … point taken.

I have a struggling business that can’t make ends meet and am also one of your casual workers “lucky” enough to get 4hrs work a week out in rural/regional Australia.

You hurt, I hurt, many hurt … just rest up a bit, please.

And to rephrase my previous post – I AM ON YOUR SIDE!! Or is this the 1st sign of in-fighting in the ranks?

this election was won by ignorance and Australia is the loser. I give it less than a year before the serious stuff-ups commence.
of course, I only have three federal labor governments as a guide. Peter Garrett's excuses will be hillarious but on the other hand I don't think he'll get the environment portfolio. Rudd is smarter than that.