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| Working on What Really Matters | |
Why is the nation gripped about debate on an Australian postal worker being
docked $3000 in pay for having an extra photo on her desk? Why has such a
trivial issue become such a popular one? Well, this is one of those stories
that feeds on itself. Because it may signal the death of the union movement. When rabid feminists threw paint-soaked tampons at the Prime Minister
to protest the introduction of the GST we saw the death of feminism. The action was clearly designed to attract attention from Joe Average on
the evening news and it did. For the average Joe (and his wife Jill) it
demonstrated quite clearly that the biggest gender injustice that the feminists
had to complain about was paying an extra $20 per year on increased tampon
taxes. Forget the oppression that the feminist movement had protested for years, the
infanticide, the beatings, the slavery, the unfair treatment at the hands of
men; forget the male dominated patriarchal society built by men for men waging
an undeclared war against women. They were going to protest about something the
extra wages from the affirmative action programs weren't going to pay for: an
extra $20 a year on tampons. There could be no clearer indication that they had
no significant and credible complaints. We may be about to see the death of the union movement with Australia Post's
Desk Nazi affair. The unions are being a little coy, but they
look like they are going to go to lay in the boot on this one. The Jackboot
heel of socialism stamping on the face of the Desk Nazis will keep the
press-sharks fed for a few days, as well as getting a few giggles around the
office. Is this really the most serious issue facing Australian workers today? Being
told to keep three personal items on their desk instead of four? With the
unions being asked to share power equally within the ALP they will be
desperately trying to find something which makes them appear relevant to the
modern workforce, and be seen to be making a strong stand for a worthwhile
cause. Trust this advice, guys - this ain't it.
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