Paul Howes to quit, Labor to lose

[nero_bolt]

Australia's highest profile unionist, Paul Howes, is expected to announce his resignation from the union movement on Monday.

Sources within the Australian Workers Union confirmed on Sunday night that Mr Howes, its national secretary, would announce his departure.

It was not clear if Mr Howes, who could not be reached for comment on Sunday night, would stand down immediately or see out the remainder of his term as head of the union.

He was re-elected its national secretary only last year. Mr Howes, 32, is engaged to Qantas executive Olivia Wirth and has, since announcing their relationship, been unwilling to comment on issues relating to the airline - where his union has hundreds of members. Mr Howes and Ms Wirth will marry in April.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/paul-howes-expected-to-stand-down-from-union-m...

[nero_bolt]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

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@catsnknots wrote:

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Once upon a time we desperately needed unions... they are now a useless commodity, we have other securities in place that will ensure that workers are looked after..... a union official is only out to climb the ladder and not to look after it's members. 

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Yes. You keep on thinking that unions are useless today just because they quiety go on with their business and you never take note of what is going on except the negatives you read about in the Murdoch rags and Pickering/Bolt blogs.

However, I doubt if the thousands of 20 year olds in the retail industry who were finally awarded adult salaries last week after a long battle by the unions would feel the same way.

I can see a lot of 20 year old losing their jobs and not being offered any more hours and a lot more 16-19 year old being employed.

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[freakiness]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@silverfaun wrote:

I wonder what the real story is??

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He is dating a hot chick that is probably more right than left..... she obviously was a good influence. 

The ALP and Union members hate him for dating her... I forgot her name but she is the spokes person for Qantas. 

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He is dating a woman, not a "hot chick". That woman just happens to be head of Qantas' Government and Corporate Affairs.

You presume too much in accusing the ALP and unions of "hating" him for his choice in women.  Is she a Lib party member?  How do you know what her political beliefs are?  Or is that just an assumption also?

[i-need-a-martini]

I think that's what everyone thought when apprentices were given a rate increase to 60% of adult wage last year. Their first increase in 40 years.

The ACCI shouted "Employers will take on less apprentices!!!".

Guess what? It didn't happen. Same number of apprentices have been taken on this year.

[boris1gary]

"Labor to lose", hahahah is this the same as Labor to lose SA - the only loser from howes leaving the Trade Union movement is the abbrott government, the Prime Minister for Unemployment has lost his little pet rat.  

[poddster]

I have to wonder if Craig Thompson was quiet while doing his "business"

[monman12]

"he has been trying his hardest to besmirch our Trade Union movement ever since."     "our" .

I think the union movement manage to adequately besmirch themselves without any single individual's  assistance,

Howes progressive suggestions apropos  trade unions in the 21st century  certainly were/are worthy of consideration, he  even, to the consternation of the union troglodytes,  advocated a "grand compact" on workplace relations between business and unions, then made some unionists see even more red than usual by complaining that:  "the current IR system has become a "blood sport" and is dragging the Australian economy down."

However, he must have done some good,  especially as he gets  you so hot under your blue collar B1G.

nɥºɾ

[*crikey*mate*]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

I think that's what everyone thought when apprentices were given a rate increase to 60% of adult wage last year. Their first increase in 40 years.

The ACCI shouted "Employers will take on less apprentices!!!".

Guess what? It didn't happen. Same number of apprentices have been taken on this year.

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Since you brought apprentices and payment up, I've had a few questions that I lack the ability to answer

 On completion of an apprenticeship, a person becomes qualified and allowed to practise in that field.

They get paid (more now - which is great! $99 a week might have been ok when the majority of apprevtices were 15ish in their fiorst year, but now as more people are choosinmg to finish secondary and then commense an apprenticeship, the kids are older when they start, so it's just not cricket.) Plus they also get paid whilst they are away at college and they get paid holidays.

In Australia, in general, service industries provide on the job training, so you earn while you learn and get your qualifications

so why then, does a student of a school, tafe or university not receive some form of financial remuneration whilst they "train"? Instead, (with the exception of school which is "technically" free) people at tafe or uni have to pay to get their qualifications.

What is it that makes the distinction between these?

Both are working towards a qualification

Both have to work to attain thiose qualifications

So why is the renumeration different?\

The best I could come up with is that by providing labour to his employer, an apprentice is able to asssist the plumber in generating income.

But, without students, the institutes and their employees would not be able to generate their income.

[monman12]

"The ACCI shouted "Employers will take on less apprentices!!!". Guess what? It didn't happen. Same number of apprentices have been taken on this year"

Really INAM?  Same numbers?

Campus Review article, excerpts:

The ACCI ".... commencements of non-trade apprenticeships such as in retail and hospitality, which are “a particularly effective entry point for school-leavers as they combine formal training with work experience”, have fallen by a third compared to the same period last year, with young Australians the hardest hit...."
"..... changes to apprenticeship policy and cuts in employer incentives that led to huge drops in the numbers of young people starting an apprenticeship, with 10,000 fewer under-19s starting an apprenticeship in the first three months of 2013 than in the same period in 2012.”

the ACCI called on all sides of politics to ensure the issue of training returns to the mainstream of Australia’s political debate."

CeBit
“Since the 2011-12 budget, right up until the Friday before the election when the Treasurer announced further cuts, there have been major reductions in the government’s support to employers to assist them in meeting the costs of taking on apprentices,

AIG
Apprenticeship commencements data is showing a downward trend. The latest March 2013 report provides
seasonally adjusted data for national apprentice and trainee commencements. The findings show that trade
apprenticeship commencements decreased from 25,200 in the June quarter 2012 to 21,500 in the March
quar ter 2013."

nɥºɾ

[i-need-a-martini]

Monman - I think you will find that the drops in apprenticeships has little to do with employment but all to do with fewer young people enrolling in apprenticeship courses. The decrease in enrollments has been on a steady decline in all states with significant drops in WA and NSW co-inciding with massive TAFE fee hikes and decreases in employer subsidies to get the kids educated.

[poddster]

Wouldn't surprise me if Howes got out before there was closer scrutiny of the Unions by the Royal Commision 😉