Government pushed SPC to slash wages in return for bailout, union officials say

Date
    February 20, 2014


The Abbott government pressed SPC Ardmona to slash pay for workers by as much as 40 per cent under a radical bailout plan for the food processor.   :o    

Three union officials told Fairfax Media they had meetings with SPC Ardmona managing director Peter Kelly before Christmas in which Mr Kelly said he was being pressured by the Abbott government to put workers on the award if the company wanted a $25 million subsidy.

Moving workers on to the award would have dramatically cut living standards for hundreds of people at the Shepparton plant, with pay cuts of $20,000 to $30,000 a year for many. Other sources involved in the restructure have separately confirmed to Fairfax Media the Abbott government's pay push at SPC Ardmona. Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane refused to directly answer questions on the issue.      :(

The government has been pushing struggling companies such as Toyota and SPC Ardmona to overhaul their workplace agreements as it has repeatedly warned about high wages, which has become a key political issue. That is despite the wage price index growing at just 2.6 per cent last year, the slowest growth in the 16-year history of the series.


Mr Macfarlane said on Wednesday costs had to fall. ''I do want to reduce labour costs but it's not necessarily reducing wages,'' he said.

''If we boost our productivity, if we increase the number of units that a person produces, then wages can remain stable but we do have to have competitive working conditions and we do have to make sure that some of the things that have happened in industry in Australia in the past are addressed.''

Treasurer Joe Hockey said costs were too high. ''We do have a high Australian dollar. We've got to reduce our costs of making things in Australia,'' he said.

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver said Australia was in a ''job security crisis'' with thousands of jobs lost and wages growth slowing. ''Meanwhile, under the banner of a so-called 'wages blowout', the Abbott government has blamed every economic fallout on workers.''      :(

If SPC Ardmona workers had been moved on to the award, pay for a level-two process worker would have been cut from about $50,000 a year to $33,000. For higher-paid maintenance workers, the falls would have been even more dramatic, dropping from as much as $85,000 a year to about $50,000.    

Electrical Trades Union state secretary Troy Gray said the SPC Ardmona boss had told him he'd had meetings with senior government figures including Mr Macfarlane. ''Kelly said to me the government has made a demand that workers be put on the award; he said, 'I don't think the government understands what that means' … after he [Kelly] explained it to the government it was clear they understood it would mean a pretty severe reduction in wages.''

Mr Gray said the government was trying to push through industrial relations reform by pressuring distressed companies to slash wages and conditions in exchange for financial support. ''This is WorkChoices mark 2 by stealth; it's disgusting to be honest.''      :o

Australian Workers Union state secretary Ben Davis, who had a separate meeting with the SPC Ardmona managing director, also confirmed that Mr Kelly had said he had been pressured by the Abbott government to put workers on the award.    

Another union official who met Mr Kelly in mid-December, the ETU's Damian King, confirmed the same. He said the union had offered a two-year wage freeze to try to keep its members in work but SPC Ardmona said it would cut 73 maintenance staff and outsource the work. ''Kelly said he was trying to impress them [the government] by contracting out.''

SPC Ardmona spokeswoman Sally Loane declined to comment about workers being moved to the award. ''We have no comment to make about private conversations with any stakeholders.''

Labor's employment and workplace relations spokesman, Brendan O'Connor, said Prime Minister Tony Abbott had previously attacked publicly the ''modest pay and conditions'' of SPC workers. And ''Mr Hockey has made it clear that he supports a race-to-the-bottom approach to workers' wages and conditions in this country'', Mr O'Connor said.      :(

After the government refused to provide $25 million to SPC Ardmona - citing ''extraordinary'' workplace conditions at the plant - it was attacked by local Liberal MP Sharman Stone, who accused Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey of ''lying'' about workers' conditions.

The state government soon after committed $22 million to refit the processing plant, with SPC parent company Coca-Cola Amatil offering $78 million as part of a $100 million package.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/government-pushed-spc-to-slash-wages-in-return-for-bailout-union-officials-say-20140219-3314e.html#ixzz2tnMpJuCJ

Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal.

There are some that wonder why people join unions.  Go figure.      :(

SPC workers could double production rates but if the product isn't being purchased, it won't matter how many cans they produce!

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 5:22am:

Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal.

If you had a 40% pay cut could you pay all your bills?

SOB

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 5:45am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 5:22am: Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal. If you had a 40% pay cut could you pay all your bills? SOB

If the business closed and you took a 100% pay cut, could you pay your bills?

Said it before, and will say it again.  The liberals cant be trusted with industrial relations.      :(    

wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:14am:

Said it before, and will say it again.  The liberals cant be trusted with industrial relations.      :(

How so? These car manufacturing shutdowns and SPC have all happened under Labor's industrial relations policies.

Slowest wages growth on record proves true extent of Abbott Government lies
19 February, 2014 | Media Release With the wage Price Index released today showing wages growth well below average in every single industry, it’s time for the Abbott Government to come clean about the non-existent ‘wages-blowout’.

ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said, “The truth is that we are seeing the slowest wages growth on record and it’s time for the Abbott Government to be honest and upfront with workers.”

“Australia is in the midst of a job security crisis with thousands of workers losing their jobs and many others pushed into casual insecure work. Meanwhile, under the banner of a so-called ‘wages blowout’, the Abbott Government has blamed every economic fallout on workers,” Mr Oliver said.

“It’s simply false and misleading. There is no such thing as a wages blow out in Australia. These figures show that wages grew 2.6 per cent last year, while the CPI rose 2.7 per cent.”

“Wages didn’t even keep up with inflation.”

He said, “On the other hand, at the same time as wages growth is slowing, big corporations are revelling in a bumper profit season, with major employers like Commonwealth Bank, BHP Billiton and Wesfarmers reporting big jumps in earnings and multi-billion dollar profits.”

“This follows the worst unemployment figures in over a decade. We are still waiting for Tony Abbott to step up and fight for jobs.”

“Every day workers in this country are confronted with more job losses, more jobs going offshore and continued inaction from the Abbott Government.

“We know Australians are struggling with the cost of living and worried about job security but they’re getting cold comfort from a Federal Government that has made clear it won’t stand up for working people.”

“Instead they are seeking to attack their wages under a banner of misinformation.”

Mr Oliver said there were two urgent priorities to protect Australia's economic prosperity - one is job creation and the other is to avoid a slash and burn Budget with further cuts.

"If the Abbott Government serves up a slash-and-burn Budget in May as promised it will throw more Australians out of work and onto the dole queues,” Mr Oliver said.

"Reduced spending or increased taxes in these conditions will make a bad situation worse.

"Tony Abbott must urgently spell out a plan for job creation and back up his promise of one million new jobs within five years.”

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 5:22am:

Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal.

Yep the Govt that rules for all Australians intended not only to give the highly profitable foreign Coca Cola company a $25 million handout but also further improve the company's balance sheet by extorting an extra $20,000 from every Australian worker they employed. And I bet come Anzac Day we will see the hypocritical faces of Abbott and his traitorous govt with hands on hearts laying reefs at memorials feigning sorrow for the diggers who gave their lives so their children could have a better life. This govt is far more loyal to its foreign masters then for Australia or any Australian. 

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 5:22am:

Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal.

the award wage in the manufacturing industry is $34,000 a year....

so how in the hell did these unskilled nincompoops get on wages of $54,000 to $64,000 a year????

Labor and the Union thugs have destroyed manufacturing in Australia...  >:(

wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:21am:

Slowest wages growth on record proves true extent of Abbott Government lies 19 February, 2014 | Media Release With the wage Price Index released today showing wages growth well below average in every single industry, it’s time for the Abbott Government to come clean about the non-existent ‘wages-blowout’. ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said, “The truth is that we are seeing the slowest wages growth on record and it’s time for the Abbott Government to be honest and upfront with workers.” “Australia is in the midst of a job security crisis with thousands of workers losing their jobs and many others pushed into casual insecure work. Meanwhile, under the banner of a so-called ‘wages blowout’, the Abbott Government has blamed every economic fallout on workers,” Mr Oliver said. “It’s simply false and misleading. There is no such thing as a wages blow out in Australia. These figures show that wages grew 2.6 per cent last year, while the CPI rose 2.7 per cent.” “Wages didn’t even keep up with inflation.” He said, “On the other hand, at the same time as wages growth is slowing, big corporations are revelling in a bumper profit season, with major employers like Commonwealth Bank, BHP Billiton and Wesfarmers reporting big jumps in earnings and multi-billion dollar profits.” “This follows the worst unemployment figures in over a decade. We are still waiting for Tony Abbott to step up and fight for jobs.” “Every day workers in this country are confronted with more job losses, more jobs going offshore and continued inaction from the Abbott Government. “We know Australians are struggling with the cost of living and worried about job security but they’re getting cold comfort from a Federal Government that has made clear it won’t stand up for working people.” “Instead they are seeking to attack their wages under a banner of misinformation.” Mr Oliver said there were two urgent priorities to protect Australia's economic prosperity - one is job creation and the other is to avoid a slash and burn Budget with further cuts. "If the Abbott Government serves up a slash-and-burn Budget in May as promised it will throw more Australians out of work and onto the dole queues,” Mr Oliver said. "Reduced spending or increased taxes in these conditions will make a bad situation worse. "Tony Abbott must urgently spell out a plan for job creation and back up his promise of one million new jobs within five years.”

Crook, Can I suggest that you make this post a separate thread.

True Blue... wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:25am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 5:22am: Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal. the award wage in the manufacturing industry is $34,000 a year.... so how in the hell did these unskilled nincompoops get on wages of $54,000 to $64,000 a year???? Labor and the Union thugs have destroyed manufacturing in Australia...  >:(

Oh yeah!!! They and their families are really living high on $54,000 to $64,000 a year. Champagne and oysters all the way.   

they wages growth not only has to slow down but be cut...


for too many years greedy lazy unskilled workers backed by Union THugs have been getting pay rises above and beyond CPI...

so don't just talk about whats happening now... talk about how we got here in the first place...

...............

and don't go opening up other threads on pay growth as its relevant in this thread...

that's the problem with this board... everyone wants to open another post on the same or similar subject... grow a brain ffs..

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:29am:

True Blue... wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:25am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 5:22am: Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal. the award wage in the manufacturing industry is $34,000 a year.... so how in the hell did these unskilled nincompoops get on wages of $54,000 to $64,000 a year???? Labor and the Union thugs have destroyed manufacturing in Australia...  >:( Oh yeah!!! They and their families are really living high on $54,000 to $64,000 a year. Champagne and oysters all the way.

most of the Tradesmen I know are only earning on average $45,000 a year...

and they are tradesmen...

not these no skilled greedy bums...  >:(

and at the end of the day... if they want to keep pushing for exorbitant wages SPC WILL CLOSE DOWN...

so its either work for sustainable wages or go on the fricken dole...

which would you choose?

No that post needs a separate thread so people know no matter how much we cut our living standards these people will push for more until we're working for slave wages to compete with third world pay and conditions. And all the while they're proudly announcing record profits.  There is no end to their greed

its already on the general forum ... so yeah.. .lets put in on every forum on this site...

its any wonder people are losing interest with this place... same crap all over the place like confetti..  ::)

True Blue... wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:31am:

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:29am: True Blue... wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:25am: Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 5:22am: Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal. the award wage in the manufacturing industry is $34,000 a year.... so how in the hell did these unskilled nincompoops get on wages of $54,000 to $64,000 a year???? Labor and the Union thugs have destroyed manufacturing in Australia...  >:( Oh yeah!!! They and their families are really living high on $54,000 to $64,000 a year. Champagne and oysters all the way.    most of the Tradesmen I know are only earning on average $45,000 a year... and they are tradesmen... not these no skilled greedy bums...  >:( and at the end of the day... if they want to keep pushing for exorbitant wages SPC WILL CLOSE DOWN... so its either work for sustainable wages or go on the fricken dole... which would you choose?

Blue, what you're proposing is a no win downward slope. Everyone knows that. Slave labour jobs are not jobs.  We need a dramatic change starting with trade barriers that block slave wage products entering this country. If we dont we end up with slavery in this country.  The whole developed world is facing the same problem and why? Because successive traitorous govts in the developed world danced the tune of the international corporate elite to cut the wages and conditions of workers in the developed world. They knew we would get to this point (they were told it often enough at the time and they insisted it would not happen. Well here we are and we need to turn it around.      

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:24am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 5:22am: Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal. Yep the Govt that rules for all Australians intended not only to give the highly profitable foreign Coca Cola company a $25 million handout but also further improve the company's balance sheet by extorting an extra $20,000 from every Australian worker they employed. And I bet come Anzac Day we will see the hypocritical faces of Abbott and his traitorous govt with hands on hearts laying reefs at memorials feigning sorrow for the diggers who gave their lives so their children could have a better life. This govt is far more loyal to its foreign masters then for Australia or any Australian.

Abbott was never giving CC a handout, never.

Liberals are grubs each and every one of them.

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:50am:

Liberals are grubs each and every one of them.

Better to be a grub than a corrupt, lying, stealing, incompetent backstabber from the Australian Liars party (ALP)...

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:54am:

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:50am: Liberals are grubs each and every one of them. Better to be a grub than a corrupt, lying, stealing, incompetent backstabber from the Australian Liars party (ALP)...

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Abbott was right  $20000  to $30000 above the award  ! >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(ABOVE

True Blue... wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:25am:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 5:22am: Yeah, we should believe the union hacks! Even if it were true, it's not bad advice. Any responsible business owner would look at ways to cut expenses back if revenue is below the level required for the business to prosper. Asking staff to take a pay cut isn't unheard of and not all that controversial. Big deal. the award wage in the manufacturing industry is $34,000 a year.... so how in the hell did these unskilled nincompoops get on wages of $54,000 to $64,000 a year???? Labor and the Union thugs have destroyed manufacturing in Australia...  >:(

If you looked at their EPA, they didn't.

But then again if you actually investigated & educated yourself you'd hardly be able to justify a comment that places Abbott & Hockey in a positive light, would you.

I put up their pay scale in threads on the day this was big news.

The highest paid is an S9 earning 63K
The S9 would be your plant mechanic a fully qualified tradesman.

Quote:

Don't believe the hype: wages growth is not hurting the economy     ANALYSIS Don't believe what you've heard. Wages are barely climbing. The Bureau of Statistics compiles the only reliable measure, and it came out on Wednesday. In the year to December, the bureau's wage price index rose 2.6 per cent. So low is the result that it is beaten by inflation at 2.7 per cent. It is the lowest outcome this century and the lowest on record, because records date back only to the late 1990s. Throughout most of the past 13 years wages have grown at more than 3.5 per cent. For four years from 2005 they grew at more than 4 per cent. Advertisement The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry describes the latest result of 2.6 per cent as “stagnant”. The Bank of Melbourne says it’s “soft like fairy floss”. It is soft because employment is soft. Wage growth always slows when employment growth slows, and it ramps up when the jobs market ramps up. Australia has had next to no employment growth in the past year (the rounded growth rate published by the ABS is 0.0 per cent). The unemployment rate has crept up from 5.1 to 6 per cent. Private sector wages rose just 2.5 per cent, yet our leaders would have us believe this historically low growth rate has pushed Holden, Toyota, Alcoa, SPC and Qantas to the edge. A few years back manufacturing wages were rising at 4 per cent. It is reasonable to ask why the present much lower growth rate (2.8 per cent) should cause problems when the higher rate of 4 per cent did not. Mining wages are rising at 3 per cent; two years ago they were 4.6 per cent. Construction wages are rising at 2.9 per cent; two years ago they were 4.3 per cent. Wages in the public sector are rising at 2.7 per cent. For every year this past decade they have risen by more than 3 per cent and at times more than 4 per cent. The new lower rate of wage growth is good news for those concerned about a wage-price spiral. The lower dollar was pushing up the price of imports. If that had fed through into higher wages which had themselves fed through into higher prices, the Reserve Bank would have been concerned. Exporters would have been worried too. Accelerating wage growth would have made them less competitive at the same time the dollar was making them more competitive. Talk about wages hitting economic growth is political. http://www.smh.com.au/business/dont-believe-the-hype-wages-growth-is-not-hurting-the-economy-20140219-3313z.html#ixzz2toB3Cbis

Effectively a pay cut.

Does this government EVER tell the truth

Wheres the outrage that accompanied the last "Lying" PM

True Blue... wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:39am:

its already on the general forum ... so yeah.. .lets put in on every forum on this site... its any wonder people are losing interest with this place... same crap all over the place like confetti..  ::)

Nope. the forum is the whole thing. Boards are inside the forum with different threads in those.

SOB

Dsmithy70 wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 8:09am:

Quote: Don't believe the hype: wages growth is not hurting the economy     ANALYSIS Don't believe what you've heard. Wages are barely climbing. The Bureau of Statistics compiles the only reliable measure, and it came out on Wednesday. In the year to December, the bureau's wage price index rose 2.6 per cent. So low is the result that it is beaten by inflation at 2.7 per cent. It is the lowest outcome this century and the lowest on record, because records date back only to the late 1990s. Throughout most of the past 13 years wages have grown at more than 3.5 per cent. For four years from 2005 they grew at more than 4 per cent. Advertisement The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry describes the latest result of 2.6 per cent as “stagnant”. The Bank of Melbourne says it’s “soft like fairy floss”. It is soft because employment is soft. Wage growth always slows when employment growth slows, and it ramps up when the jobs market ramps up. Australia has had next to no employment growth in the past year (the rounded growth rate published by the ABS is 0.0 per cent). The unemployment rate has crept up from 5.1 to 6 per cent. Private sector wages rose just 2.5 per cent, yet our leaders would have us believe this historically low growth rate has pushed Holden, Toyota, Alcoa, SPC and Qantas to the edge. A few years back manufacturing wages were rising at 4 per cent. It is reasonable to ask why the present much lower growth rate (2.8 per cent) should cause problems when the higher rate of 4 per cent did not. Mining wages are rising at 3 per cent; two years ago they were 4.6 per cent. Construction wages are rising at 2.9 per cent; two years ago they were 4.3 per cent. Wages in the public sector are rising at 2.7 per cent. For every year this past decade they have risen by more than 3 per cent and at times more than 4 per cent. The new lower rate of wage growth is good news for those concerned about a wage-price spiral. The lower dollar was pushing up the price of imports. If that had fed through into higher wages which had themselves fed through into higher prices, the Reserve Bank would have been concerned. Exporters would have been worried too. Accelerating wage growth would have made them less competitive at the same time the dollar was making them more competitive. Talk about wages hitting economic growth is political. http://www.smh.com.au/business/dont-believe-the-hype-wages-growth-is-not-hurting-the-economy-20140219-3313z.html#ixzz2toB3Cbis Effectively a pay cut. Does this government EVER tell the truth Wheres the outrage that accompanied the last "Lying" PM

Clearly wage stagnation has not stopped the push for more cuts and more cuts.  Just look at Swag every day going on about Penalty rates. If we lose the penalty rates battle you can bet your life the very next morning you will wake to a news report that business is calling for yet another cut in wages and conditions.  It will never stop until they have us working for slave wages. And when you think about it they admit as much in their argument.  They say we have to cut wages to compete with china and other slave wage countries.  In other words until our wages are as low as theirs the business sector will not be satisfied.  The developed world needs to reintroduce trade barriers (and certainly no more bogus free trade agreements) to block imports from slave wage countries. That way we'll pull their standard of living up to our level rather then we go down to theirs (which is the goal of the international corporate elite)   

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 11:23am:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 8:09am: Quote: Don't believe the hype: wages growth is not hurting the economy     ANALYSIS Don't believe what you've heard. Wages are barely climbing. The Bureau of Statistics compiles the only reliable measure, and it came out on Wednesday. In the year to December, the bureau's wage price index rose 2.6 per cent. So low is the result that it is beaten by inflation at 2.7 per cent. It is the lowest outcome this century and the lowest on record, because records date back only to the late 1990s. Throughout most of the past 13 years wages have grown at more than 3.5 per cent. For four years from 2005 they grew at more than 4 per cent. Advertisement The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry describes the latest result of 2.6 per cent as “stagnant”. The Bank of Melbourne says it’s “soft like fairy floss”. It is soft because employment is soft. Wage growth always slows when employment growth slows, and it ramps up when the jobs market ramps up. Australia has had next to no employment growth in the past year (the rounded growth rate published by the ABS is 0.0 per cent). The unemployment rate has crept up from 5.1 to 6 per cent. Private sector wages rose just 2.5 per cent, yet our leaders would have us believe this historically low growth rate has pushed Holden, Toyota, Alcoa, SPC and Qantas to the edge. A few years back manufacturing wages were rising at 4 per cent. It is reasonable to ask why the present much lower growth rate (2.8 per cent) should cause problems when the higher rate of 4 per cent did not. Mining wages are rising at 3 per cent; two years ago they were 4.6 per cent. Construction wages are rising at 2.9 per cent; two years ago they were 4.3 per cent. Wages in the public sector are rising at 2.7 per cent. For every year this past decade they have risen by more than 3 per cent and at times more than 4 per cent. The new lower rate of wage growth is good news for those concerned about a wage-price spiral. The lower dollar was pushing up the price of imports. If that had fed through into higher wages which had themselves fed through into higher prices, the Reserve Bank would have been concerned. Exporters would have been worried too. Accelerating wage growth would have made them less competitive at the same time the dollar was making them more competitive. Talk about wages hitting economic growth is political. http://www.smh.com.au/business/dont-believe-the-hype-wages-growth-is-not-hurting-the-economy-20140219-3313z.html#ixzz2toB3Cbis Effectively a pay cut. Does this government EVER tell the truth Wheres the outrage that accompanied the last "Lying" PM Clearly wage stagnation has not stopped the push for more cuts and more cuts.  Just look at Swag every day going on about Penalty rates. If we lose the penalty rates battle you can bet your life the very next morning you will wake to a news report that business is calling for yet another cut in wages and conditions.  It will never stop until they have us working for slave wages. And when you think about it they admit as much in their argument.  They say we have to cut wages to compete with china and other slave wage countries.  In other words until our wages are as low as theirs the business sector will not be satisfied.  The developed world needs to reintroduce trade barriers (and certainly no more bogus free trade agreements) to block imports from slave wage countries. That way we'll pull their standard of living up to our level rather then we go down to theirs (which is the goal of the international corporate elite)

;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 11:23am:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 8:09am: Quote: Don't believe the hype: wages growth is not hurting the economy     ANALYSIS Don't believe what you've heard. Wages are barely climbing. The Bureau of Statistics compiles the only reliable measure, and it came out on Wednesday. In the year to December, the bureau's wage price index rose 2.6 per cent. So low is the result that it is beaten by inflation at 2.7 per cent. It is the lowest outcome this century and the lowest on record, because records date back only to the late 1990s. Throughout most of the past 13 years wages have grown at more than 3.5 per cent. For four years from 2005 they grew at more than 4 per cent. Advertisement The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry describes the latest result of 2.6 per cent as “stagnant”. The Bank of Melbourne says it’s “soft like fairy floss”. It is soft because employment is soft. Wage growth always slows when employment growth slows, and it ramps up when the jobs market ramps up. Australia has had next to no employment growth in the past year (the rounded growth rate published by the ABS is 0.0 per cent). The unemployment rate has crept up from 5.1 to 6 per cent. Private sector wages rose just 2.5 per cent, yet our leaders would have us believe this historically low growth rate has pushed Holden, Toyota, Alcoa, SPC and Qantas to the edge. A few years back manufacturing wages were rising at 4 per cent. It is reasonable to ask why the present much lower growth rate (2.8 per cent) should cause problems when the higher rate of 4 per cent did not. Mining wages are rising at 3 per cent; two years ago they were 4.6 per cent. Construction wages are rising at 2.9 per cent; two years ago they were 4.3 per cent. Wages in the public sector are rising at 2.7 per cent. For every year this past decade they have risen by more than 3 per cent and at times more than 4 per cent. The new lower rate of wage growth is good news for those concerned about a wage-price spiral. The lower dollar was pushing up the price of imports. If that had fed through into higher wages which had themselves fed through into higher prices, the Reserve Bank would have been concerned. Exporters would have been worried too. Accelerating wage growth would have made them less competitive at the same time the dollar was making them more competitive. Talk about wages hitting economic growth is political. http://www.smh.com.au/business/dont-believe-the-hype-wages-growth-is-not-hurting-the-economy-20140219-3313z.html#ixzz2toB3Cbis Effectively a pay cut. Does this government EVER tell the truth Wheres the outrage that accompanied the last "Lying" PM Clearly wage stagnation has not stopped the push for more cuts and more cuts.  Just look at Swag every day going on about Penalty rates. If we lose the penalty rates battle you can bet your life the very next morning you will wake to a news report that business is calling for yet another cut in wages and conditions.  It will never stop until they have us working for slave wages. And when you think about it they admit as much in their argument.  They say we have to cut wages to compete with china and other slave wage countries.  In other words until our wages are as low as theirs the business sector will not be satisfied.  The developed world needs to reintroduce trade barriers (and certainly no more bogus free trade agreements) to block imports from slave wage countries. That way we'll pull their standard of living up to our level rather then we go down to theirs (which is the goal of the international corporate elite)

That's pretty much it. You could have the average wage at $5ph and they'd still be bleating about something.... why it shouldn't be $4ph... a standardised 60hr week..... getting rid of workers comp insurance for employers... a 10 day working week etc etc

It's never enough.

So when is Tony going to lead by example and offer to lower his pay by 40%?

Fit of Absent Mindeness wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 1:05pm:

So when is Tony going to lead by example and offer to lower his pay by 40%?

I agree especially when Gillard in her short time in office gave the 40% increase in the first place.

De-registered User wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 1:32pm:

Fit of Absent Mindeness wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 1:05pm: So when is Tony going to lead by example and offer to lower his pay by 40%? I agree especially when Gillard in her short time in office gave the 40% increase in the first place.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 6:54am:

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:50am: Liberals are grubs each and every one of them. Better to be a grub than a corrupt, lying, stealing, incompetent backstabber from the Australian Liars party (ALP)...

Nobody tells lies quite like the Lieberal grubs.

Fit of Absent Mindeness wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 1:05pm:

So when is Tony going to lead by example and offer to lower his pay by 40%?

Quote:

TONY Abbott says he justifies his increasing MP salary by working as hard as possible to try to scrap the carbon tax.

http://www.news.com.au/finance/money/senator-lashes-out-as-pollies-given-another-5500-pay-rise/story-e6frfmci-1226416182460

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 1:31pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:54am: Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:50am: Liberals are grubs each and every one of them. Better to be a grub than a corrupt, lying, stealing, incompetent backstabber from the Australian Liars party (ALP)... Nobody tells lies quite like the Lieberal grubs.

Were you unconscious when Thomson mislead parliament during his hour-long teary-eyed speech?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 1:40pm:

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 1:31pm: Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:54am: Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:50am: Liberals are grubs each and every one of them. Better to be a grub than a corrupt, lying, stealing, incompetent backstabber from the Australian Liars party (ALP)... Nobody tells lies quite like the Lieberal grubs. Were you unconscious when Thomson mislead parliament during his hour-long teary-eyed speech?

You may note that he was sitting on the cross benches at the time and voting with the Lieberals on occasion.

De-registered User wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 1:32pm:

Fit of Absent Mindeness wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 1:05pm: So when is Tony going to lead by example and offer to lower his pay by 40%? I agree especially when Gillard in her short time in office gave the 40% increase in the first place.

Me too, he's undoing everything else Labor did, why not this?

Dnarever wrote on Feb 20^th, 2014 at 1:54pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 1:40pm: Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 1:31pm: Armchair_Politician wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:54am: Dnarever wrote on Feb 20th, 2014 at 6:50am: Liberals are grubs each and every one of them. Better to be a grub than a corrupt, lying, stealing, incompetent backstabber from the Australian Liars party (ALP)... Nobody tells lies quite like the Lieberal grubs. Were you unconscious when Thomson mislead parliament during his hour-long teary-eyed speech? You may note that he was sitting on the cross benches at the time and voting with the Lieberals on occasion.

Oh, that makes it all okay then! ::)

SPC Ardmona: Bill Shorten slams Tony Abbott on plan to slash wages

Date
    February 21, 2014


Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has accused the Abbott government of wanting to cut wages to ''Third-World conditions'' at SPC Ardmona.      :(

It comes after The Age revealed that the federal government pressed SPC Ardmona to slash pay for workers by as much as 40 per cent under a bailout plan.

A level-two production worker at SPC Ardmona would have had their pay reduced from about $50,000 a year to about $33,000. ''How desolate and sterile is the vision of the Abbott government that they say that someone on $50,000 should take a pay cut to $33,000 a year,'' Mr Shorten said.   :(

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/spc-ardmona-bill-shorten-slams-tony-abbott-on-plan-to-slash-wages-20140220-334be.html#ixzz2ttcpufj5

wrote on Feb 21^st, 2014 at 6:31am:

SPC Ardmona: Bill Shorten slams Tony Abbott on plan to slash wages Date     February 21, 2014 Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has accused the Abbott government of wanting to cut wages to ''Third-World conditions'' at SPC Ardmona.      :( It comes after The Age revealed that the federal government pressed SPC Ardmona to slash pay for workers by as much as 40 per cent under a bailout plan. A level-two production worker at SPC Ardmona would have had their pay reduced from about $50,000 a year to about $33,000. ''How desolate and sterile is the vision of the Abbott government that they say that someone on $50,000 should take a pay cut to $33,000 a year,'' Mr Shorten said.   :( Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/spc-ardmona-bill-shorten-slams-tony-abbott-on-plan-to-slash-wages-20140220-334be.html#ixzz2ttcpufj5

Bill Shorten is an imbecile. There is no way wages could be cut lower than what the minimum wage is set at for that job.