Workers fear the sack and are struggling to pay the bills: union survey   :(
Sydney Morning Herald
2 March 2018




Australian workers feel like they're toiling harder for less, are struggling to pay basic household bills and increasingly fear the sack according to a survey that unions will use to push for an increase in the minimum wage.   :(

"If there's ever a time for a big increase to the minimum wage, it's now," Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Ms McManus told Fairfax Media, as many low-paid workers brace for a second penalty rate cut in July.

"It's in everyone's interests."

The ACTU's largest every survey, of nearly 60,000 workers including cleaners, teachers to miners and construction workers, also reveals deep pessimism about their chances of winning a pay rise and their ability to find fulfilling work if they lose their current jobs. It also finds people are finding it harder to save and are concerned about the next generation's prospects of permanent work as casualisation spreads.


The survey shows more than 70 per cent of workers feel like they are working harder for less, as bosses expect them to do longer hours, work unpaid overtime, and as cost-of-living increases eat away at their incomes.   :(


More than half of workers - 59 per cent - say they fear they will lose their jobs in the next few years. And nearly 80 per cent of respondents fear they will not be able to find fulfilling work if they do lose their current job.

"People who have been in existing employment for a while fear there is a cliff to fall off if they lose that job. That cliff ends up being labour hire, or contract work, or casual work. They can see it happening," Ms McManus said.

People are also concerned for their kids' future in the workforce, with 90 per cent worried there will be fewer permanent and secure jobs for the next generation of workers.

Eight out of 10 respondents said it was hard to get a decent pay rise and just one in 10 believe they will be able to enjoy a "secure, dignified retirement".

But they're not just worried about making ends meet when they leave the workforce. Two thirds of people disagree or strongly disagree with the proposition that it is getting easier to put money into their savings.

Nearly half say they are finding it harder to keep up with mortgage and rent, and more people say they are struggling to pay for health care and dentistry (66 per cent), household utility bills (68 per cent) and service their credit card debts (53 per cent).   :(

The survey found overwhelming support for equal pay and superannuation for women (91 per cent) and  stronger laws to stop wage theft by employers (98 per cent). Nearly all respondents said they were worried about the casualisation of the workforce and believe the rules around collective bargaining should be fairer.

The survey of 57,959 people - 90 per cent of them union members - was conducted from September 2017 to February 2018, primarily online.

Ms McManus said the results could be boiled down to two main themes: Australians want more secure jobs and fair pay rises.

"They want pay rises that not only keep up with the cost of living but pay rises that are a fair share of productivity gains and profits," she said.

The ACTU will be making its claim in coming weeks. It called for a $45 a week rise last year, triple the previous claim. The Fair Work Commission subsequently awarded a $22.20 a week

If there's ever a time for a big increase to the minimum wage, it's now," Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Ms McManus told Fairfax Media, as many low-paid workers brace for a second penalty rate cut in July.  Well said Ms McManus.  People that work weekends and public holidays should get paid the penalty rates.  They should not have been cut in the first place.   :(

In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual

This is the reality of life under libtards

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:51am:

In my industry

What fvvken 'industry', you're on here all day fvvkwit.....?

Awful language snowball tsk tsk

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:51am:

In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual This is the reality of life under libtards

Casuals are not compensated enough. The casual loading should be increased to 50% with a callout charge per shift equal to 2 hours' pay and a retainer for each hour of availability equal to 10% or more of hourly pay. That should put strong downward pressure on casualisation. If that isn't enough to get casualisation down, exempt all casuals from all antistrike legislation and consider other measures.

Bam wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 6:07pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:51am: In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual This is the reality of life under libtards Casuals are not compensated enough. The casual loading should be increased to 50% with a callout charge per shift equal to 2 hours' pay and a retainer for each hour of availability equal to 10% or more of hourly pay. That should put strong downward pressure on casualisation. If that isn't enough to get casualisation down, exempt all casuals from all antistrike legislation and consider other measures.

They pay 20% casual loading down from 25% , Nightshift used to be double time for first four nights with a paid stand down day , now it's 15% and no paid stand down day .

This is life under libtards

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:51am:

In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual This is the reality of life under libtards

Still bitching about what those 5 labor appointed FWC commissioners did?
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

lee wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 6:48pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:51am: In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual This is the reality of life under libtards Still bitching about what those 5 labor appointed FWC commissioners did? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

They're under libs watch and if they don't tow the line it's curtains

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:18pm:

They're under libs watch

And independent of Government. ;)


Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:18pm:

and if they don't tow the line it's curtains

Remember appointed until 65? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

lee wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:26pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:18pm: They're under libs watch And independent of Government. ;) Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:18pm: and if they don't tow the line it's curtains Remember appointed until 65? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Independent  ;D ;D ;D yep sure sure

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:35pm:

lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:26pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:18pm: They're under libs watch And independent of Government. ;) Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:18pm: and if they don't tow the line it's curtains Remember appointed until 65? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Independent  ;D ;D ;D yep sure sure

So you would argue they were NOT independent under Labor rule? ;)

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:51am:

In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual This is the reality of life under libtards

that is tough going

good luck there

lee wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:38pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:35pm: lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:26pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:18pm: They're under libs watch And independent of Government. ;) Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:18pm: and if they don't tow the line it's curtains Remember appointed until 65? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Independent  ;D ;D ;D yep sure sure So you would argue they were NOT independent under Labor rule? ;)

Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them .

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:40pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:51am: In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual This is the reality of life under libtards that is tough going good luck there

Not bad for a company with 1.7 billion stashed away  :(

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:56pm:

Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them .

So nothings changed. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

lee wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 8:05pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:56pm: Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them . So nothings changed. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

::)

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 8:11pm:

lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:05pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:56pm: Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them . So nothings changed. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ::)

So you had one go against you with the Libs in charge after admitting you had setbacks when Labor was in charge.

The only difference is the Government and it seems both had decisions go against you.

And yet you seem to think one worse than the other.

Do you understand the meaning of "shot yourself in the foot"?

lee wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 8:20pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:11pm: lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:05pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:56pm: Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them . So nothings changed. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ::) So you had one go against you with the Libs in charge after admitting you had setbacks when Labor was in charge. The only difference is the Government and it seems both had decisions go against you. And yet you seem to think one worse than the other. Do you understand the meaning of "shot yourself in the foot"?

Agreements weren't terminated in Labors tenure

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 7:57pm:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:40pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:51am: In my industry they just cut penalty rates and went straight to flat rate and cut site and travel out altogether , nobody new onsite isn't casual This is the reality of life under libtards that is tough going good luck there Not bad for a company with 1.7 billion stashed away  :(

It seems more often that companies are run by managers with short term goals

You've got an employment minister that channels Margaret Thatcher as her idol and you think her appointments would be bipartisan  :D

Its time wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 8:28pm:

lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:20pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:11pm: lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:05pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:56pm: Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them . So nothings changed. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ::) So you had one go against you with the Libs in charge after admitting you had setbacks when Labor was in charge. The only difference is the Government and it seems both had decisions go against you. And yet you seem to think one worse than the other. Do you understand the meaning of "shot yourself in the foot"? Agreements weren't terminated in Labors tenure

And this is from the supposed independent FWC, under Labor to a supposed captive FWC under the Libs?

And it doesn't matter whether the agreements had expired or not?

Too bloody funny.

lee wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 8:50pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:28pm: lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:20pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:11pm: lee wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 8:05pm: Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:56pm: Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them . So nothings changed. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ::) So you had one go against you with the Libs in charge after admitting you had setbacks when Labor was in charge. The only difference is the Government and it seems both had decisions go against you. And yet you seem to think one worse than the other. Do you understand the meaning of "shot yourself in the foot"? Agreements weren't terminated in Labors tenure And this is from the supposed independent FWC, under Labor to a supposed captive FWC under the Libs? And it doesn't matter whether the agreements had expired or not? Too bloody funny.

It's far from funny Lee

https://thewest.com.au/business/mining/griffin-coal-miners-cop-mammoth-pay-cut-await-return-to-work-date-to-end-six-month-strike-ng-b88742403z

This is the new normal under libtards

lee wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 8:05pm:

Its time wrote on Mar 2nd, 2018 at 7:56pm: Like slipper as speaker there was a balance from both sides of the ledger when it came to appointments . I can assure the unions copped a hammering in fair work in Labors tenure and quite often ruled against them . So nothings changed. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

As disgraceful as it is - penalty rates did in fact change. It wasn't a coincidence it was under a Liberal government.

Liberals " the workers friend "  >:(

Dnarever wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2018 at 9:14pm:

As disgraceful as it is - penalty rates did in fact change. It wasn't a coincidence it was under a Liberal government.

So you believe a Liberal conspiracy as well- where the Labor appointed FWC Commissioners are fine upstanding individuals under Labor and spineless jellybacks under the Libs? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

This is one of many reasons why the Libturds are on track to lose 1/4 of their House seats at the next election.