Fractured Factual Tales : Fruit picking and maths

[rogespeed]

So the producers are whinging because not enough idle citizens are fruit picking , and the suburban idle labour force is reluctant to offer themselves because the earnings are effective  2rd world low

In a free enterprise system ( even if we are not quite ) the labour force can decide to withhold their labour pending a better offer of earnings

So take orange picking piecemeal rates , is paid by volume picked , that being a bin ( like a small car trailer with high sides , not a house rubbish bin ) - weight of oranges when filled i got told was 400kgs ( seems reasonable and close enough for this discussion)

So the newbie lured from suburbia dolefully picks the reasonable 3 bins , maybe four , takes 90 minutes per bin , for a princely sum of gross $90-$120 per day , 5 days a week .. $450 - $600 pw gross @ $30 per bin

I think is reasonable to understand a problem with motivation

Now if rate per bin was increased to $60 per bin ... for a newbie  would gross $900 - $1200 per week  , more likely enough to overcome pain and suffering , disruptions to home and social life and other privations while enabling a progressively better standard of life

Of course the producers would claim outrageous !

But should that be ?

By my reckoning ( i am lousy for maths logic )

The price at retail  currently is about $2 per kilogram , this represents value of $800 per bin @  $30 labour to pick

now if the rate was doubled to $60 , this would add $30 costs to the current nominal $800 for $830

A $30 increase , shock horror , however sold at retail per kg an increase from $2.00  per kg to $2.08 per kg

The difference between newbie nett poverty earnings and reasonable is represented by 8 cents per kg at retail.

Of course retailers do not pay pickers - but I thought the dynamics of costing and prices brings a little more insight into what is entrenched thought that is somehow grossly disadvantagous  

[domino-710]

I think when I post I am going to have to mention - ' everytime ' - the small dark birthmark on my DD's thumb.

You have no idea - how many women - even to the point of licking their fingers - would try to remove the ' vegemite '.

It kind of grew with her - but is not necessary on her Passport.

[chameleon54]

I just get annoyed when people automatically assume people with disabilities cant do anything. It  further ingrains social prejudice and discrimination and makes people with disability's feel ostracised from the community.

Unfortunately there are too many on these boards who carry those prejudices and reflect them in their posts. ( refer Stawka's

 post for a classic example ) Anyway gotta go. Work to do..

[domino-710]

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@chameleon54 wrote:

I just get annoyed when people automatically assume people with disabilities cant do anything. It  further ingrains social prejudice and discrimination and makes people with disability's feel ostracised from the community.

Unfortunately there are too many on these boards who carry those prejudices and reflect them in their posts. ( refer Stawka's

 post for a classic example ) Anyway gotta go. Work to do..

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You actually seem to have the ' hangup ' with disabilities - every post - every mention - you have to point out - gets a bit sicko.

[gewens]

Hello,everyone. To be respectful is very important in your interaction with other members here. I'd like to remind you that content that is harmful, hostile, threatening, abusive, baiting, vulgar, defamatory, harassing, or includes hate or racist speech, name calling, or profanity will be edited or removed. Please read about our policy here: https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Community-Feedback/Updates-coming-to-eBay-com-au-Discussion-Boards/... Thanks very much. 🙂

[chameleon54]

Its not so much a " hang up"  as a passion. ...There is a big difference.  Being married to some-one who is very active in the field of disability advocacy, I hear stories everyday of discrimination and do see it first hand from time to time with the wife. ( and some of the experiences are pretty bad )

Because the wife is so passionate about the topic, and i,m regularly hearing what happens in real life, rather than just reading about it like most people here,  I,m living and experiencing the thread subject daily. I dont think it's unreasonable to be passionate about a cause when it is your lived experience.

Anyway you wont need to worry about it much any more. I had cut my posting right back, due to the toxic nature of some of the regular posters on these forums and the new look forum is doing my head in. I was wavering before and this has just about done it for me.  Seeya  ( maybe )

[rogespeed]

The blind pick the bottom branches....

[dontmissthese]

Good news. The government has set a minimum wage for pickers. Maybe our locals might step in to replace back packers.

[rogespeed]

One can now feel more at ease eating fruit & veg knowing is now picked by those who are more fairly remunerated