Burke: Minimum wage earners should profit from JobKeeper payments
20/05/2021 Sky News Australia.
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke says employees should also reap the benefits of “huge profits” earned by companies off the back of the federal government’s JobKeeper payments.

The Coalition has so far resisted calls from unions to increase the minimum wage by 3.5 per cent with new data showing a 1.5 per cent increase in wages since March 2020.

“It’s not a recovery if people’s wages are effectively going backwards,” Mr Burke said.   :( 

“If the recovery is doing well enough that JobKeeper can be withdrawn, surely the recovery can be doing well enough that workers, particularly workers on the minimum wage, get a share of what’s happening.

“The first thing the government could do is advocate for an increase to the minimum wage which they haven’t done. :(

“We’ve got businesses calling for either a pay freeze or arguing for a 1.1 per cent increase. That means people’s wages go backwards. How is that a recovery? Some of the companies advocating for a pay freeze are companies that earned huge profits off the back of JobKeeper.

“It was good enough for them to make huge profits off the back of JobKeeper and pocket that money, it’s not good enough for a small percentage of that to find its way to their employees.”

We need an increase in wages.  We need an increase in super.   :(

We need a nation that has some real design for the future......

whiteknight wrote on May 22^nd, 2021 at 7:31am:

We need an increase in wages.  We need an increase in super.   :(

but do you need an increase in inflation ??

whiteknight wrote on May 22^nd, 2021 at 7:31am:

We need an increase in wages.  We need an increase in super.   :(

but do you need an increase in inflation ??

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2021 at 6:03pm:

whiteknight wrote on May 22nd, 2021 at 7:31am: We need an increase in wages.  We need an increase in super.   :( but do you need an increase in inflation ??

Cutting CEO etc pays would be a start... then there are shares.... cut/cut/cut.... tax the best paid 90%... tax business 35% minimum to control inflation .... where do you start and finish?  EVERY factor that creates a rise in cost of living creates inflation... look at the housing market these days... totally insane and out of control and soon people will demand $100,000 a week just to buy a home.. and all the cheating and rorting and dog eat dog will get worse and worse.

Then comes The Downfall........

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2021 at 6:03pm:

whiteknight wrote on May 22nd, 2021 at 7:31am: We need an increase in wages.  We need an increase in super.   :( but do you need an increase in inflation ??

But we are already getting the inflation with their money printing racket so why not increase the wages to keep up with it ??

Sir lastnail wrote on May 24^th, 2021 at 1:45pm:

But we are already getting the inflation with their money printing racket so why not increase the wages to keep up with it ??

Inflation is still well below the 2-3% range wanted by the RBA.

And not everyone needs an increase in  wages.

thegreatdivide wrote on May 24^th, 2021 at 4:10pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on May 24th, 2021 at 1:45pm: But we are already getting the inflation with their money printing racket so why not increase the wages to keep up with it ?? Inflation is still well below the 2-3% range wanted by the RBA. And not everyone needs an increase in  wages.

Maybe not but ppl certainly dont need a decrease

Spot

aquascoot wrote on May 22^nd, 2021 at 6:03pm:

whiteknight wrote on May 22nd, 2021 at 7:31am: We need an increase in wages.  We need an increase in super.   :( but do you need an increase in inflation ??

We already have inflation and every year there is no increase the impact on wages is a real money wage cut.

At the current rate a 5 year period with no increase is equal to about a 7% real money pay cut based on the inflation you are keeping low. You at the same time openly support all the other drivers of inflation.

thegreatdivide wrote on May 24^th, 2021 at 4:10pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on May 24th, 2021 at 1:45pm: But we are already getting the inflation with their money printing racket so why not increase the wages to keep up with it ?? Inflation is still well below the 2-3% range wanted by the RBA. And not everyone needs an increase in  wages.

Most of the people who do not need an increase get very healthy increases + Bonuses and often plus shares. STI/LTI etc.

The only way workers are going to get a fair pay rise in the next three years is to vote the current federal government out.

"[Low wage growth] is a deliberate feature of our economic architecture." -- Cormann, March 2019.

Dnarever wrote on May 24^th, 2021 at 9:08pm:

thegreatdivide wrote on May 24th, 2021 at 4:10pm: Sir lastnail wrote on May 24th, 2021 at 1:45pm: But we are already getting the inflation with their money printing racket so why not increase the wages to keep up with it ?? Inflation is still well below the 2-3% range wanted by the RBA. And not everyone needs an increase in  wages. Most of the people who do not need an increase get very healthy increases + Bonuses and often plus shares. STI/LTI etc.

indeed