What future for the minimum wage?

A Pastoral Letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker
1 May 2005
The Minimum Wage in an Age of Prosperity and Wealth

This could be the last time a Minimum Wage Case of the current type is heard. The Government has criticised the AIRC for supposedly lacking “economic rigour” and has suggested that alternative mechanisms for setting the minimum wage are being examined.

The Catholic Commission, ACCER, has expressed its concerns to Government that the wage decisions, affecting the lives of so many low income Australians, could be taken from the Industrial Relations Commission. This independent institution is obliged to consider a fair minimum in the context of general living standards, the likely impact of increases on the economy and with special concern for the low paid.

Those seeking to restrain minimum wage increases often argue that it impedes employer demand and keeps people who are unemployed out of work. But a failure to appreciate the common interests and experiences of the unemployed, the underemployed and the low paid is likely to result in unjust proposals for the reduction of minimum wages and the creation of jobs.

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We are all boat people

We are ordinary Australians who are appalled at the inhumane treatment of refugees by our government. We have decided to get involved and challenge the border panic encouraged by the current rhetoric of fear.

Our goal is to create a shift in the minds and hearts of our fellow Australians who have not seen the truth behind the lies told by the Howard Government and the mainstream media outlets that broadly support it's views.

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Free trade agreement jeopardises local workers

1000 workers may be jobless within months as two Sydney car-part manufacturers plan to close, or move to Asia, as Australia moves towards a free trade agreement with China.

AMWU state secretary, Paul Bastian, said:

"The China free trade agreement, together with existing competition from China, makes it impossible for the Australian auto component industry to survive."

"Employers are demanding that workers adopt and compete on Chinese wage conditions."

"What the Federal Government should be doing is have an open and transparent debate in Parliament about not just the economic impacts but also the social costs and implications."

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14 characteristics common to fascist regimes

In "Fascism Anyone" Laurence Britt identifies 14 characteristics common to fascist regimes. His comparisons of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet yielded this list of 14 "identifying characteristics of fascism."

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See also Karl and King George political satire for their "Fascism is Fashionable" t-shirt

Bjelke-Petersen’s attacks on Queensland workers

Bernie Neville was an organiser for the Electrical Trades Union during the 1980s SEQEB dispute. Writing for the April special supplement of "Neighbourhood News", he explained the role Joh played in that dispute.

In February 1985, the National Party government of Joh Bjelke- Petersen sacked 1100 electricity workers, all members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), all were employed by the South East Queensland Electricity Board, its aim was to privatise the industry. Bjelke-Petersen’s goal was to take away from the power workers’ job security, erode their conditions and increase the length of their working week. The workers resisted.

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