Time for History lesson
I don't agree 100% with this post but damned he makes some excellent points
at least read first 1/2 of it
http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/pamphlets/capitalism-socialism-how-we-live-and-how-we-could-live

'''''''So following your conclusions we would have people with degrees sweeping floors and cleaning toilets,So who does this benefit

not sure how you come to this conclusion, but hey, we are all entitled to an opinion.

now im not sure where your $500 a week comes from, but it would appear you are working part time.

Paul....conditions of employment through awards or agreements are something that are determined by collective bargaining and then ratified by an independent umpire. What could be fairer than that?

Rubbish, Julia Gillard in 08' then employment minister had an axe to grind and she took some 400 awards (from memory) and condensed into less than 100.

My brother runs a restaurant and he rang me the day the new awards took place for his industry, saying they just added $100,000 to his annual wage bill. for nothing.

he had three rest at the time. one he sold, another he closed sundays (16 people lost the shift they relied on) the third he slashed where he could. the second one eventually closed as it became unprofitable. 25 lost their jobs

in fact, this year was the first year he closed on aus day holiday as he couldn't justify the $55 per hour for wash up crew. heis in one of QLDs tourist meccas, hasbeens old ground, the Whitsundays.

julia Gillard ignored industry calls and cost many jobs, but she, along with the unions didn't care a less.

the fruit picking industry was another hard hit. In fact, some towns suffered as the annual grey nomads no longer had their annual stop over because the bosses couldn't afford the Sunday wages.

in both these industries, the bosses and staff had arrangements that both were happy with, yet labor took an axe to them.

Why?

Il tell you why, because labor cant allow two grown adults coming to an arrangement that suits them.

Paul, it wasn't the law until Julia changed it.

'So following your conclusions we would have people with degrees sweeping floors and cleaning toilets,So who does this benefit

not sure how you come to this conclusion, but hey, we are all entitled to an opinion.
maybe just follow on from what you said you said education is the answer, I added what happens when we are all educated see how your argument is flawed yet or do i need keep explaining
ok $500 a week was after tax and are many many jobs paying this amount full time name a few . Truck driving security cleaning shop assistants
do i need continue?

'So following your conclusions we would have people with degrees sweeping floors and cleaning toilets,So who does this benefit
Aussieboy,
We have this scenario now & it isn't of benefit to anyone. Many people with degrees are not competent enough to do anything more then sweep floors & some are even struggling with that. It's a legacy of education for education's sake from the ALP. It has lowered the standard to an intolerable level. Sweeping floors is way more important than what some of these degree bearing bureaucrats do. We are getting penalised by paying them with our tax dollars.

Aussieboy, people have the perception that wages must be linked to cost of living, and to a degree, it makes sence.

the problem is, that wages must also be affordable to the employer, and at the moment they are not. Or at least they are headed that way, especially when penalty rates come in to the equation.

You see people place strain on local businesses because of cost of living increases, yet, they also buy imported goods to save money.

Now as far as PR go, i am in support of essential services attracting penalty rates, but not hos[itallity or tourism, or any other sector that the consumer has demanded they operate seven days.

i have witnessed the strain on small retail and hospitality seven day trading (with PR) has caused.

My thoughts originally were that if the trading day attracted PR, then a levy should be placed on goods and services sold. However, because the majors now have such a strong hold, they tell governments what they are going to do. So that would not work.

At the end of the day, if you want something (seven day trading) you have to give something, but the current system is a one way street and Sunday would not be such a busy trading day had governments not caved into big business who exploit salary workers and kids.

Dear sm your obviously a mouth piece for liberal party you you advocate education and every time liberal is in power education takes a massive hit.
Dear rehctub are you in QLD ? I know who manipulated your retail sector is up there, Its not Penalty rates my man its big corporations that are screwing you over and also the guys paying staff cash in hand
example of big corporations a major retailer you all have visited had restrictions on them about sunday trading I think it was a shop with no more then 5 employees could open sunday this retailer split his staff into 5 man groups and called them all small businesses and he got around Penalty rates by paying commission. That is what is killing small businesses my friend.