Workchoices

[catsnknots]

Did Labor have a mandate to get rid of Workchoices after they won the election from John Howard? 

If so why? 

[lakeland27]

john howard losing his seat is a fair indicator if what people think . a very clear indicator

[the_great_she_elephant]

I would have to agree with Martini - irrespective of its merits or flaws,  I'm pretty sure workchoices was the biggest political mistake the Howard Govermnent ever made -and I suspect (though obvioulsy I cannot prove) that it was the overriding factor in them losing the election

[topsidesoul]

Ahh workchoices....

Had a parent work for a company for 22 years, unpaid overtime the lot. Some new  people buy the company and fired her and her employees and ran the company using family..........all thanks to workchoices.

Same family member couldn't find another job because you need two former employers listed when on unemplyment, having been employed for 22 years she could only list one.....

Another sibling was being underpaid by her emplyer because he was not using software to calculate pay and it was always wrong.

So she got him a cheap copy of MYOB and spent her own time learning it so she could teach him, this was agreed by the employer.

When it was time to teach her he turned around expected her to handle the books when that was not her job and she had no training.

When she refused to do this unpaid, she was fired.....thanks workchoices!

Guess who had to support both of these people with my own pay?

The workplace ombudsman's office regularly brings employers to court for unpaid wages.

Just waiting till this free and helpful service gets canned.

[topsidesoul]

Plenty of people have trouble approaching their Boss for a pay raise or to discuss a contract.

My contract during the workchoices time had me enter a room by myself and have to deal with  an owner, a boss and two laywers......very un nerving.

[catsnknots]

hm.. I feel for people that had to do that and can't handle it.. sorry that happened... 

I have never had a problem... I always managed to get on very well with bosses and got good agreements or left... 

I feel that people should be able to bargain themselves though...why should only Unions be able to do that? 

[poddster]

My expertise was in demand so it was a win/win situation. I was not interested in popularity and neither was the employer.

My attitude to popularity remains to this day 🙂

Can't you tell?

[lakeland27]

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@poddster wrote:

My expertise was in demand so it was a win/win situation. I was not interested in popularity and neither was the employer.

My attitude to popularity remains to this day 🙂

Can't you tell?

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  i can see it, but i'm not convinced it was what you intended.

if it were my place of work i wouldn't have bore you a grudge anyway. i haven't spent a lot of time in unionised workplaces.

[not_an_eloi]

may be the reason for the o.p.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-22/serious-concerns-raised-about-contracts-imposed-on-doctors/503...

[i-need-a-martini]

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@catmad*2013 wrote:

I want to be able to negotiate my wage but as I am not part of the union I have no say..... I don't even get a vote... 

Lots of people where I work are not in the union but they also don't get a choice. 

In fact the unions are dragging this out and making it harder for lots of people.... with the threat of privatisation I think we work with the Government to secure out futures and longevity of our jobs. 

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But a union would never have helped you with this (wage negotiation) anyway. Unions don't act for individuals, they act collectively for better wages and conditions by industry or sector. I am not quite sure what you think the unions could do to help you with your current employer? Unless your work is covered by a trade union, then you are on your own.

And I don't understand what you mean when you say you don't have a vote or people don't have choice. A vote in what? A choice in what?

Nor do I understand what you mean when you say the unions are dragging this out? Dragging what out?

[lakeland27]

its only a temporary break from 100 years of collective bargaining . those clowns can't possibly last long.