Workers protest march

[Matt. K]

I just happened to stumble onto this today And I think I see the reason for the change in the unfair dismissal laws....maybe something like this...The Liberal Party instigates free trade agreements with a number of third world countries and we are flooded with cheap bannanas, potatoes and carrots etc. Australian companys buy this cheap stuff to maximize their profits. Australian growers and manufacturers can't compete so they start sacking their staff. This worries the Government because high unemployment might cost them votes...so the solution is to change legislation so that local manufactueres can employ staff at the same rate third world countries pay. Peanuts. That's right folk! I don't know much about economics but I can count my change.

[Aussie Dave]

...and all for the love of the almighty $

Profit / People x Greed - Compassion + GST = BUSINESS

a.k.a "the way of the world"

[mic]

Dave,

Spot on !

Sometimes I would just like to start afresh on Mars.

Were did we go wrong

Mic.
Dreaming about being on Olympus Mons ( On MArs )

Great pics Matt,
Sorry, it's the Beer

[leek]

I won't comment on your politics Matt, but the photos are pretty good... Very reminiscent of the 1970s in the UK... Arthur Scargill etc...

[sirhc55]

Great shots Matt and it reminds me as to why I work for myself (and the government )

[WadeM]

The 'feeling' I get off the AMWU(Pity the top of her sign is cut off ) and the police girls really makes me feel like I was there. Great work. Better then the photos I saw in the paper!

--Wade

[birddog114]

Hey! I can see 80% of the faces in the march voted for the Liberal with proud in the last election and now they against them! What's a joke?

[MHD]

Great pics!
The AMWU girl is the best IMHO...

PJ for a day

[kipper]

This whole bullshit about competing with the rest of the world. You can't compete unless you want to make our society go backwards. How can we compete with countries that as Matt has said, pay their staff peanuts. Ok if the govt wants to pay us peanuts, how about they start giving us stuff for peanuts too like food at 3rd world country rates.

[glamy]

The whole thing is so revolting that I'd rather not comment. I do not know how our liberal politicians can live with themselves...
Gerard

[stubbsy]

I have two things to say:

1. Matt these are a great bunch of shots and something you're particularly good at.

2. What really, really, pisses me off is how a significant majority of my fellow Australians voted in both the senate & house of reps for the Libs/Nationals and yet a significant number of those who DID vote for them will start to complain about the effect on them over the coming months and years then turn around and reelect them again because they get thrown a few sheckels just before election time.

But then that's democracy. We could be living in a third world country now.

3. (can't count) Please note - I have no problem with those who voted Lib/National and think what happens over the coming months and years is a good thing and so vote for them again - that's democracy too.

[leek]

The whole thing is so revolting that I'd rather not comment. I do not know how our liberal politicians can live with themselves...
Gerard

The "whole thing" is actually pretty reasonable and fairly mild if you look at the actual legislation that is proposed...
The ACTU and other unions are portraying a VERY false image of the changes in a pathetic attempt to protect their dwindling power base...
Unfortunately, most people don't take the time to educate themselves on the subject and are therefore complaining more about what they have seen in the ACTU ads...

That said, I'd really rather that we didn't discuss politics here - there are plenty of places I can go on the web to discuss that...
Let's keep it to photography and other interesting and non-controversial things...

[hangdog]

I like the AMWU picture also. It seems to convey the participants' emotions so well.

--Chuan, who was in the then Metalworkers' Union for about 6 weeks circa 1986, during a holiday job in a stove factory…

[kipper]

Leek, time will tell eh if it's all a lot of so called union tripe.

[stubbsy]

The whole thing is so revolting that I'd rather not comment. I do not know how our liberal politicians can live with themselves...
Gerard

The "whole thing" is actually pretty reasonable and fairly mild if you look at the actual legislation that is proposed...
The ACTU and other unions are portraying a VERY false image of the changes in a pathetic attempt to protect their dwindling power base...
Unfortunately, most people don't take the time to educate themselves on the subject and are therefore complaining more about what they have seen in the ACTU ads...

That said, I'd really rather that we didn't discuss politics here - there are plenty of places I can go on the web to discuss that...
Let's keep it to photography and other interesting and non-controversial things...

John.

Politics, controversial? Never

And you're right of course. Will anyone's views be changed by what we read here?

[leek]

And you're right of course. Will anyone's views be changed by what we read here?

Mine won't - I know that !!!

[stubbsy]

And you're right of course. Will anyone's views be changed by what we read here?

Mine won't - I know that !!!

Pretty much my point - and you're entitled to that - I have a real problem when people start to badger others to change their viewpoint on various political, religious or moral viewpoints. Every one has the right to their own opinion. Must say I doubt that sort of badgering qould be allowed here anyways.

[MCWB]

I have a real problem when people start to badger others to change their viewpoint on various political, religious or moral viewpoints. Every one has the right to their own opinion. Must say I doubt that sort of badgering qould be allowed here anyways.

Completely agree. The only time it's allowed here is the relentless persecution of Sigma worshippers.

Erm, back on topic, great PJ work as per usual Matt!

[Matt. K]

Leek
I agree with you that the changes have "some" merit and are not draconian. For those who employ people the unfair dismisal laws were a real headache when they employed incompetent staff and then could not get rid of them. For any government getting the balance is difficult. Now workplace contracts are a slightly different matter and it is ludicrous to think a 47 year cleaner has the skills or the courage to negotiate a fair contract without some kind of representation. Someone needs to represent these folk and the unions are probably best for that role. It would be nice have a society where unions are not required but I think that time is still far off. Now back to photography.

[kipper]

Like Matt said, while I think some laws should be changed. Touching the EBA is not on imho.

[Killakoala]

Stuff peanuts, I will work for beer.

Great photos Matt.

I was at a similar rally in Townsville but i didn't have my camera with me as i just went shopping on my meagre days off.



'Bring back the rum issue', i say.

[Matt. K]

Killa
You go ashore without your camera???

[gstark]

Dave,

Spot on !

Sometimes I would just like to start afresh on Mars.

And with the recall on Mars bars, you can't even do that now, Dave.

[MATT]

Great pics,

I'm only sorry I missed the march.




MATT

[Andoru]

Matt .K -> nice pics mate! Love those helmets!

[Kristine]

Great pics!
The AMWU girl is the best IMHO...

Agree