HOWARD LETS THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG
The proposed IR setbacks (I refuse to call them reforms, as to reform something means to make it better, and these changes do no such thing) have been in the news a lot lately in Australia. The government has recently criticised the ACTU for "scare-mongering" over their claims that the proposed changes will reduce wages, stability and safety in the workplace. The government claims their reforms will do no such things, but, wait for this, increase wages.
However at his IR speech to the Sydney Institute on Monday John Adolf, sorry I mean Winston, Howard let the cat out of the bag. He said:
"In a global economy that increasingly values specialisation and flexibility, perseverance with workplace reform is essential if we are to narrow this productivity gap further and respond to challenges such as the rise of China and India as great economic powers."
Why are China and India "more productive"? Well, more productive isn't what he really means. What he really what means is they can produce things much cheaper than Australia. Why? Because of the ridiculously low wages they pay and the lack of costs associated with providing a safe workplace. So how will the government's proposed changes make us more competitive with India and China? Simple, by reducing wages and safety in the workplace.
Be under no illusions people, these changes are designed first and foremost to reduce people's wages and workplace safety.
posted by Aleks - Anarcho-Syndicalist at 4:45 pm
4 Comments:
Aleks, this "cat" has been strolling around out of its bag for years. Successive Australian governments have regarded increased worker productivity as a goal. Howard isn't stating anything that Keating or Hawke haven't said.
You're twisting his words to make it sound like he wants to reduce workers benefits to the levels of those 'enjoyed' by our fellow man in China and India.
The goal of these 'setbacks' (as you quite accuarately call them) is to increase the rate at which businesses can accumulate capital and (in theory) continue to invest in businesses which generate employment. I agree that Howard's logic is flawed, but your argument isn't a great improvement on it.
11:30 am
Thanks for the comment, but I stand by my words. As someone who works in IR and is active in the refugee rights movement I know that Howard doesn't give a shit about people; refugees, Indigenous Australians, the elderly, students, working people, gays and lesbians, the disabled, all these have suffered under Howard's attacks.
He isn't interested in productivity as such, all he is interested in is power and his legacy. If he can be seen to reduce unemployment to an all time low ad making us "competitive" with India and China by slashing wages, he will do so with no regrets.
Also don't forget his belief in the Protestant work ethic and "rugged individualism": if you are in a shitty low paying job then it is your own fault becuase you are lazy and as such you shouldn't expect the government to protect.
Even a right wing areshole like Gerard Henderson has indicated that all Howard doesn;t care about policy or idealogy, he is only interested in his own power. If slashing wages to the level of China and India will help him maintain it, he will do this.
2:10 pm
hi aleks, you haven't posted for a while. how are you?
8:16 pm
Hi Melbournegirl,
Been a bit sick and snowed under with work, that's why there was no post for a while. Thanks for asking.
7:49 pm
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