JUDGEMENT AND THE BASIC WAGE

of the century fight for income inequity. Where would we be without Unions?

The industrial relations system has changed massively since 1907. In recent decades successive conservative governments have done whatever they can to undermine the old arbitration system and to create something less fair, and more relentless in the service of profit. At the heart of this has been the unceasing attacks on unions.

Higgins’s ruling was a massive step forward, though it was a product of its time, and the basic wage was granted to male workers based on the presumption that they would be the breadwinner of their families. Unions campaigned throughout the following decades to win equal pay for working women.

State and federal employment exclusions also barred Indigenous workers from gaining the benefits of the decision, leading to a long campaign by First Nations workers for wage justice. But the extent and significance of this ruling should not be underestimated. This new national standard made clear that working people were just that – people! It was a statement not just about the nature of work at the Harvester Factory, but more broadly, about the type of society Australia was, and the type of country Australians wanted it to be.

This is because they know that we will never stop defending the rights of working people, and insisting that workers are more than just the jobs we do – we are human beings with real lives, real responsibilities, and the right to decent pay.

Keys

They weren’t in my pockets. Suddenly I realised I must have left them in the car.

Frantically, I headed for the car park. My husband has scolded me many times for leaving my keys in the car’s ignition. He’s afraid that the car could be stolen. As I looked around the car park, I realised he was right.

The car park was empty!

I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen. Then, I made the most difficult call of all to my husband: “I left my keys in the car and its been stolen.”

There was a moment of silence. I thought the call had been disconnected, but then I heard his voice. “Are you kidding me?” he barked, “I dropped you off!”

Now it was my turn to be silent. Embarrassed, I said “Well, come and get me then”

He retorted, “I will; just as soon as I convince this cop that I didn’t steal your damn car!”

A MAN GOES TO BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE...

... After the salesman rings him up and helps him strap it to the car, he asks, “were you planning on putting this up yourself?” to which the man responds, “Actually, I was thinking of putting it in the living room.”

WHILE WALKING DOWN THE STREET ONE DAY, A SENATOR IS TRAGICALLY HIT BY A TRUCK AND KILLED.

His soul arrives in Heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to Heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the senator.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“There’s no need! I want to be in Heaven,” says the senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.” And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator, the doors open, and he rides the elevator down, down, down. When the doors open again, the senator finds himself in the middle of a beautiful green golf course. In the distance is a club, and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in formal dress. They run to greet him, and they reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.

Also present is the Devil, who is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that, before the senator realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator

JEFF BEZOS’ ADVICE

An Amazon employee greets Bezos shortly after his successful spaceflight and gives him a hearty congratulations. Jeff responds, “Well, if you work hard, set yourself goals and work with determination, I should be able to squeeze in 2 more flights before Christmas.” goes up, up, up, and the door reopens in Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. So 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by, and St. Peter returns.

“Well, you’ve spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now, you must choose where you want to spend eternity.”

He reflects for a minute and then answers, “Well, I would never would have thought it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better satisfied in Hell.”

So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator, and down, down, down he goes into Hell. Now, the doors of the elevator open, and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. And it’s hot, hot, hot, and the odor is just horrible. Sweltering hot. Hot and miserable. The Devil comes over to him and smoothly lays his arm around his shoulder.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “The day before I was here, and there was a golf course and club, and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is is a wasteland full of garbage, and my friends look miserable.”

The Devil looks at the senator, smiles, and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us.”