[LINK] I'm going to throw something out there...

[Adam Neat]

[disclaimer: these comments are mine and mine only]
 
Seeing the recently circus that clouds the Sydney Metro rail system, and
numerous other Union-orientated stop work or strike action events in
Australia, are we becoming too socialistic in our day to day working
lives?
 
I become frustrated when I see on the daily news, and read in the
weekend papers (AFR, Weekend Oz, Herald Sun - Melb) so many Unionised
events that are occurring in Australia. Whether it is a teacher rally or
a train drivers stop rally, you can bet your bottom dollar that some
union is going to be striking for some reason.
 
I had a discussion with a laborer (fairly senior in his construction
company) several months ago over a beer at a pub in Melbourne and he
tried to explain how hardly done they [read: he] was doing. From memory,
he earnt a respectable 80K a year and worked an average 8 hours a day
and had Sundays and Mondays off. Yet, he wanted more.
 
What ever happened to the old ideals in Australia of giving it a go and
working hard for your earnings. I personally work >60 hours a week as a
minimum and whilst I always wish I had more money, I still only get paid
for 37.5 hours a week. If I work a little harder and under some harsher
conditions for a few weeks, I consider it part of the job. If it
continues beyond a few weeks, I'll sit down with my lead and state my
case, and get either additional resources of (tangible) recognition.
So, my question is, what am I missing that mandates Unions to demand
higher pay for doing the same job? I get annoyed when I see 300
labourers walking down the street towards the city central on a
fortnightly basis to, can I say it, bitch and moan about wanting more
money.
 
Is this country going mad? Am I being overly simplistic? What, if
anything, are we doing wrong?
 
I could say more but, I'll wait to get responses first.
 
Regards,
 
Adam
 
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Adam Neat | Melbourne, Australia
email:   <mailto:adamneat at anoti.com> adamneat at anoti.com   
msn:    adamneat_ at hotmail.com
web:    http://www.anoti.com/adamneat/
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