Thread: help needed to save our manufacturing.

Today a book arrived for me, full-size, inch thick, cost me around $25 (from memory, came by Snail-Mail, so the order date is a month or two ago.)
A subsidiaryof Harper-Collins, properly bound - not paperback-type el cheapo glue binding- and they've used sufficient black ink on appropriate, zero-glare, paper stock... so that it's easy to read and turn pages... Unlike another book I bought over the net that was printed in ??? on a glary, bright-white coated stock, with a very light dose of .... dark grey ink Difficult to hold open and annoying to try and read.

Good design decisions and quality machinery operated by competent tradesmen will always produce a 'Quality' product that generates repeat business.

Despite the wait, I'll be happy to buy more Printed & Bound in America books, rather than the glossy rubbish that might have been cheap to produce...

And I can still remember the second-hand 'Jungle Greens' that were issued to us in school cadets, and how long they lasted after we left. (with them...)
Took me 10+ years to wear mine out. - Made in Australia in the 1940's to '50s.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

How many pay increases did you knock back, in your career, Pickles?
As for your "coal face" example, who with an IQ above single figures, would believe that load of old tosh? Presuming you are referring to the coffee shop proprietor, no employer is going to put on more staff than is absolutely essential, penalty rates or not. Anybody purporting otherwise is pedaling BS to promote self interest.

1. None. And as I have said before, I was a member of the ABOA, later the Finance Sector Union, for all of my working career. However, it was a "moderate"union, not "radical", and its claims for its members where not nearly at the level of some of the claims, of recent years, from the likes of the CFMEU. For many years, it was also non political. It was reasonable. But then, in my day, most of us bankers were "reasonable"& conservative "bank officers"
2. As far as the "Coffee Shop" comment is concerned,...who said it was a "coffee shop"?...not me, 'cause it wasn't, it's much bigger than that. And, if you're in the habit of purposely posting untruths, well done, I'll keep that in mind,'cause I don't. Simply because you don't agree, does not mean to say that what I say, is untrue.
And, guess what, we're cruising around the Mallee at the moment,..went to get a bit of lunch at a bakery we normally go to when in the area,...guess what?...It was closed today,......Guess why????......but you already know of course,.....you don't need to be told by the local S/Station owner, like we were?
Pickles.

Part 2: they'd be Closed... Because it's a public holiday and small Business owners like time off occasionally.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Part 2: they'd be Closed... Because it's a public holiday and small Business owners like time off occasionally.

Here's the funny thing, I went down the local centre yesterday (dapto mall)and everything was open, small shops, bakers delight, Coles , woollies, amcal ,Payless ,big w , all the food shops, and all the women's shops.
So who extra is going to be put on when their all open anyway.
Now on the way home I pass a few smaller shops that close on Saturday arvo , Sunday's and public holidays anyway. One , a butcher , supplies the two local IGA who is open 7/365, so all he does is pack a heap on Friday arvo and Saturday into pretty plastic and IGA tag it.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Part 2: they'd be Closed... Because it's a public holiday and small Business owners like time off occasionally.

Of course they do, I'm aware of that, but we've been up here heaps of times, holiday weekends etc, and this place has ALWAYS been open.
Like I said, I was talking to the local servo owner,...who told us why.
I'm not saying everyone's affected by these "penalty" rates, but plenty are.
Pickles.

I've had this thought about "penalty rates"as distinct to overtime, just wondering what you guys think.
Society has changed over time. It is now very "normal" for all sorts of shops, food places, restaurants etc to be open 7 days a week, maybe some are closed on Mondays, but many are open weekends, but years ago they were not, and when they were, it was the exception, not the rule, so a penalty ?xception"rate was paid, because of the unusual task (in those days) of working on a weekend, when it was not normally expected.
But now times have changed,...mostly all restaurants etc are open all weekend,...it is "the norm" for people working in these industries...they might have to work W/E, but have a couple of days off during the week. It's not the same sort of "penalty" as it was, it's the norm.
Pickles.

They, are still the vast minority working weekends.
They are also usually the ones who are casual , part time or students doing it to make ends meet.
Now if the increased number of customers allows you to be open , pay the penalty rates .
When you take the penalty rates off them the vast majority are low income earners who cannot afford to lose another $50-150 or more a week.
When you talk about xuz open, how many are working and how many are being served? Proof in pudding. 3 workers in the coffee shop and your order no. 255.

I work 14 days straight when on shift. No penalty rates or overtime either by the way as we are all salaried.
I find that I am a rarity amongst our social network and have to rely on friends a lot to be there for me when I can't. Of course it works both ways, because I can be there for them when off shift, when they can't.
Working weekends still has a significant impact on Family and social life, especially for those who work 9-5 5/7.Those people should be compensated and really, would you do it if you weren't?
I get 3 out of seven weekends off and that is hard.