Who lifted the lid on awards.
Bit hot on unions, it aint compolsory to be a unionist.
A union is only as good as its members.
The best tradesmen and educational facilities. I don't know where you get educational facilities from. I done tech school for 3 years before being apprenticed at 16 years old.
1960 was paying $65/ week for a tradesperson.
5 Year apprenticeship.
It's about time trades had a fair go.

Such hysteria, Boaz, over a few little strikes.

>>GREECE and FRANCE are the furthest down the track with widespread violence from communist agitators stirring up unhappy public service employees... FRANCE. the country is 'buggered' to be blunt with over spending<<

You obviously don't remember much about mai 68. They just love a good strike, those French. Helps clear the air, get the dirty water off their chests and all that.

Especially the students. I suppose it is not stretching things to describe them as "communists". But your idea that there is some "communist agitation" going on is extremely far-fetched. "Agitation" has not been in the French vocabulary since the 1930s.

But don't take my word for it. Here's the view from inside the Party, observing the events of mai 68.

http://en.internationalism.org/wr/313/may-68

"Georges Marchais, number 2 in the Communist Party, said in his turn: 'These false revolutionaries must be energetically unmasked because objectively they serve the interests of Gaullist power and the great capitalist monopolies'."

Hardly the most convincing form of "agitation".

And true to form, you can never resist a quick swipe at the Poms, can you?

>>UK has only reached the 'widespread discontent' stage..the violence will come soon.(Unions are at the forefront of this.)<<

I know that you would really, really like this to happen. But it is highly unlikely.

Britain's most damaging strikes in recent history culminated in the 1974 three-day week.

Inconvenience: huge. Massive, in fact. I was there.

But violence? Nil. None.

There was a bit of argy-bargy up in Yorkshire during the miners' strike in Thatcher's time. But mostly by the police.

But a distinct absence of communist agitation.

Incidentally, it is a matter of record that the most militant unionists in the UK are not the English, but... the Scots.

And while I'm here, I thought you might like to know that your "Cloward Pliven strategy", as a weapon of economic destruction, is a load of conspiracy-nut cobblers.

Dear Pericles glad to have you aboard still.

Nice to see you doing some digging there.. I'll read the link don't worry.

Those pesky Scots :) wouldnt surprise me Perilous..it's not a race thing its an idealogical thing. The Scottish nobility trashed the people during the clearances..there are always traitors in every group.

But interestingly..when I rang the CFMEU a while back to ask how much a builders laborer will get.. the bloke who answered was a POM. Lots of poms in our unions. "whinging poms" remember ? :) But seriously.. I was not having a poke at the english in that post..I was having a poke at the socialists.

I believe you will see serious disruption and violence after the cuts come in... if not.. well and good, but the level of violence is not the measure of a movement..it's the numbers and political impact.

France is being torched as we speak. You need to look more closely at what people like Andy Stern of SEIU (until recently) actually say.. openly. (America)

Cloward Pliven is not out of date by any means..just look at ACORN.

And consigning such well documented ideas to the 'conspiracy nuts' only makes you look like one.

From your link, you would do well to focus on the paragraph headed by:

"There were only 300 at the meeting: the majority of students were actively preparing for their end of year exams...."

to see where 'communist agitation' can lead

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=4044#100684

AGiR, just wait till you see what is coming up in QLD soon. Talk about Machiavellian Bastardry.

The Asset sales by Goanna B Liar.

They knew it would be unpopular before the last state election, which is why they did not reveal it all until 2 weeks afterwards. They had this confirmed by the outcry the day after it was announced. They had this guaranteed to them by the ALP result in the recent Fed elections with a booth by booth count which has shown they will be wiped out next time. Lucky if they can hold any more than 6 to 12 seats.

But have they taken any notice? No they are forging ahead. By the time the LNP win the next state election, several of Treasuries best Cash Cows will be gone along with the money from the sales. The 89 Billion Debt they racked up during a Boom in Mining Royalties, Coal Transport Profits, both Rail & Ports, plus Stamp Duties on all the Real Estate Bubbles will have been reduced by 10% at best.

With their Profligate Spending on over inflated "Infrastructure" projects set to continue full SPEED ahead, by the time the LNP get there, the debt will be rising again, Exponentially, (i know that's a big word for you Pericles, look it up in the dictionary) the pressure will be on the LNP to either radically cut spending, or raise Taxes, Fees & Charges (of which there are now many in QLD) or Both.

This is their evil plan, of Economic Sabotage, hopefully to turn the LNP into "One Term Wonders". Every Trade unionist will be screaming blue murder, especially the Rail, Tram & Bus union which has at least one CPA life member among its staff & the ETU, they need a lot of lights in tunnels.

SNAGS... yep..I don't doubt you a bit.

Anna blight will do what she has to for SHORT term solutions.

But we all know the 'assets' sellable will run out and then what ? :)

Ohhhhh how the whining the crying...the gnashing of working class and public service teeth will echo all the way down to Victoria.

STEP 1 "sell public assets"

STEP 2 "Tax the rich moreeeeee"

STEP 3 "go broke because the rich left the place" :)

How do I know? aaaah...my spies in Maryland USA (fox news) explain.

Maryland democratic governor decided to TAX THE GREEDY RICH more to raise $220,000,000

Outcome? :) the RICH left the state (residentially) and the state LOST repeat LOST $100,000,000

SOCIALISM.. is bankrupt ideologically....and will bankrupt any state economically.

THE PROCESS OF USURPING POWER.

I've seen deeper into this lately. It seems to work this way.

1/ Public service is unionized.

2/ PS Unions demand ever greater reward, healthcare, pensions.

3/ Left wing (Democrat) Politicians promise to enact such things.

4/ Unions (the ones above) then FUND left wing (democrat) Political candidates....who win

5/ The scumbag politicians then GIVE the unions what they want, making them even more powerful. (The Pollies know they won't be around when the state goes bankrupt)

EXAMPLE. When jobs were advertized for firefighters jobs recently.. people lined up and even camped out to apply! ! !

6/ States go bankrupt with unfunded liabilities and they BORROW.

7/ This lasts until the interest bites, the money runs out the credit rating plummets, no new money... people restless....

7/ REVOLUTION...which is, of course,what the Marxist Union leaders were aiming for all along :)

8/ Everyone is broke, but what little money there is...goes to feather Union Leaders 'country chalets' and luxury homes and possibly concubines.