Belly
Interesting to note that Easter Saturday has been deemed a 'public holiday'. Why ? No idea!

Just a few headaches caused by this ruling;
1. What was normally a day where one was paid at 1.25 time the normal rate now turns into 7.6 hrs for pub hol, then on top of this time and a half for the first 2 hours then double time there after.

So all in all almost triple time for this days trading.

2. Because shopping centers charge for extended hours trade, including pub hols we will most likely get a bill for what would normally be included within our weekly rent.

So you sit there as an employer and wonder if it is worth while opening given the fact that your staff will be the only ones getting paid.

I am not opposed to public holidays but where is the trade off.

And we all wonder why food is so expensive as some of you say.

Belly.As a unionist I would like your view on this?

General question.
How would everyone feel if they had to pay a surcharge on all groceries purchased on a public holiday?

Cheers
Happy easter

rehctub

happy easter to you as well.

Senate inquiry into meat marketing

Senator Bill Heffernan, Liberal Senator for NSW, announced today the establishment of a Senate inquiry into meat marketing.

The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport will look at the need for effective supervision of national standards and controls and the national harmonisation of regulations applying to the branding and marketing of meat.

The inquiry will be advertised shortly in major newspapers calling for submissions from interested

stakeholders and public hearings will be scheduled. Submissions will close on May 4 and information about the inquiry can be accessed from the following website:
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/rrat_ctte/meat_marketing/tor.htm

Senator Heffernan raised his concerns in February during Senate Estimates.

"There is a view out there in the industry at the moment – and I am talking about the harmonisation of meat standards across Australia – that there is a racket that has developed with the replacement of lamb with

hogget and the better-bodied sheep and branding the meat as lamb and sending it to Sydney..."

Senator Heffernan said the Committee was prepared to receive confidential submissions so that witnesses can speak freely without fear of intimidation or retaliation.

"This has been flagged as a real concern from some stakeholders wishing to make a submission," he said

rehctub: "So you sit there as an employer and wonder if it is worth while opening given the fact that your staff will be the only ones getting paid."

So don't open on Easter Saturday. Have the day off, let your employees have the day off - I'm sure you'll all be happier for it.

That's what public holidays are for. It's your choice if you're silly or greedy enough to want to work if you don't have to.

'WoW' How clever is this guy. Mr Hetheton
This has been going on for 20 years. Only problem is that the consumer gets sucked in by the cheating retailer, then brands the fair dinkem ones as 'rip offs'.

I can remember being sworn at by a guy because I quoted $10.99 Kg for an orgainc chicken. He said to me "you're a f---ing rip off mate, I can buy one for $6 Kg". He was not interested in my explaination when I told him I paid $8.50 Kg wholesale.

I will await the outcome.

As for you CJ Morgan
If only running a business was as simple as either 'turning up or not!

There would actually be very little difference in quality, between
what is classified as lamb (baby teeth) and hoggett (first two
teeth starting to show.) You can put lambs into a feedlot, two
weeks later they go to the meatworks, any sign of teeth and its
into the mutton basket. Last year my darling processor did it
to me on 5 lambs, payment was then $1.20 per kg, one score 5 lamb
was 50c a kg! To me that is criminal, for if they at least made
an effort to onsell it as hoggett, but nope, without competition,
they clearly don't give a stuff.

I'm told that in NZ and the US they have a different way of deciding
as to what is lamb and what isn't, so what could well be classed
as mutton here, could still be called lamb there.

IMHO the meat industry needs to be investigated by some anti
corruption commission.