& what makes you think some lying, cheating, overcharging Lawyer or Accountant is worth more than a checkout chick.

The argument you make has long been made but it's crap.

I am dealing with a Bankruptcy Firm at the moment. The two head people are giving themselves over $1500 & hour the next 4 or 5 people range down to $450 Their bill so far is higher than what the Firm was worth. How much to you think I'll get. My claim is only for $480.

With a percentage rise the wage disparity is exponential in a downward direction very fast for the lowest paid. At least with a set Sum raise the Difference you talk about is much slower & could be made up every, say ten rises. At least it would be fairer.

The 12 months to get up to scratch argument is also crap. You might get away with that in an office setting but not on a shop floor.

My wife was a "Dragon Lady" (Front End Supervisor) for Woolworths for many years. Training was one week or 3 days, then on to the Checkout. No 12 months to get up to scratch there. Nor in a dress shop, 3 months probation as a Trainee in a Chemist Shop. 2 weeks in a News Paper Shop.

$1500 An hour!

Seriously Jayb, please tell me you're not gullible enough to think a person on $1500 per hour is subjected to annul 2.8% pay rise.

Best you leave these types of discussions to people who have half an idea of how the wheels turn hey!

Sorry, can't help myself, I just have to educate you.

A person who is capable of earning that much is not on any type of award wage, as they would be paid on a performance basis with their pay being a reflection of what fees they manage to write for the company they are engaged by, that's right, ENGAGED as these types of people are not your average PAYG tax payers.

BTW, that's what fee the firm charges, not what this guy earns.

I'm still amazed that you can try to use this as an example to fuel your argument.

rehctub: A person who is capable of earning that much is not on any type of award wage, as they would be paid on a performance basis with their pay being a reflection of what fees they manage to write for the company they are engaged by, that's right, ENGAGED as these types of people are not your average PAYG tax payers.

I know that. You are right that's the Fee/hour the two Managers charge to do the work. I wonder if the $1500/hour is what the Managers pocket. I doubt that the employees get the $450/hour in their pay checks though. But it sure shows why there isn't any money left to pay the people that are owed money.

I still think a percentage based wage increase is a rip off of the lower paid workers though. I've been through the mill from the lowest to the highest. As a labourer to Tradesman to Manager, so I do have some idea.

Butch gets somewhat excited at times. Pushing your own barrow will do nothing. A lousy .37 cents and butch says there is a bigger picture.
Any employer who cannot deflect .37 cents / hr needs not be in business.
This country would still be asking for food just like oliver twist if it was not for the union movement. Remember the members are the union, they tell their elected heads what they can and can't do.
To alter the union movement outside of the members consent would be very brave, and probably political suicide.

I really don't see the value of Bank CEO getting paid millions plus Millions in add ons either. People like the woman for Wespac & the Quantas bloke. No- on, & I say again, no-one is worth that amount of money. Then their is the Board Members who do or do not turn up at meetings read the last minutes & close the Meeting. They get paid hundreds of thousands plus Bonuses & knighthoods & they complain if the worker gets 37c/hr increase.

Something is seriously wrong about how it all works.

I see the Politicians in Queensland have awarded themselves a pay rise of about $70000/year on top of what they already get. That's increase is twice what most wage earners get, seeing the "average" wage is $68700/year & most labourers are only on about $34000/year.

Widening the Gap once again.