We have strikes all the time over here, but most of them are pretty short, like 24 hrs, - and they're currently looking at a new law to stop prison wardens striking because there was some chaos last time they did! It's against the law for police to strike.
I don't think we've had lengthy strikes here since the eighties...and I've no knowledge whatsoever about arbitration laws...What about you?
Until Howard became PM we had the Industrial Relations Commission which arbitrated disputes and made sure that people unprotected by Unions wages stayed tied to the cost of living. A US type strike could not happen because the IRC was a Court presided over by a judge, it was illegal to strike when the Union had notified the IRC of the dispute. Any appeals would be heard in the Federal or High Courts.
Howard dissolved the IRC and set about allowing employers to make employees work longer for less money with fewer protections. Now, Rudd is PM and says he will get rid of the majority of this legislation. He's only been in for a short time, we'll see what happens.
I'm fairly sure that the majority of disputes here are handled between unions & employers - which would be better if the unions hadn't been so neutralized in the eighties.
The original system seems really fair - I presume the IRC were independent to both sides? And even if you were having to still work when things were bad, at least you knew something was getting done.
Wow. That couldn't have made Howard very popular (except for with big business). It would seem it would be a good move to reverse that.
Yeah, the eighties huh? Blair did that, then. The Rudd campaign was very similar to Blair's when he took power from Thatcher. I've been wondering how fair the similarities will go.
Yeah, a neutral arbitrator is best, much better than the "we'll starve you out" attitude that employers take wih Unions in the US. And, Howard's dream - employeee and employer "bargaining" one- on- one.
On a totally different topic, I read a lot of happy fans had just watched the first ep of the second series (?) of Torchwood. What do you think of the show?
Oh yeah. It was completely Thatcher that started their decline, presumably due to the miners strike.
How does Howard really expect employees to negotiate with employers fairly? That's nuts. At the end of the day, one side quite obviously holds all the power.
Ahhh. Torchwood. I so want to like it but...it's just not good. I like all the actors fine, but the scripts are so hit and miss. And, hell, I love Stargate Atlantis so I'm pretty easy to please :-)
I did watch the first episode of series 2 because of James Marsters and it was more fun then usual, but I think that's because Spike was in it. Seriously. Evil but lovable, check. Flirty, check. Violent, check. Quips & puns, check etc. It was only the hair & outfit that were different. Do you like it?
I loved Captain Jack in Dr Who, I loved Christopher Eccleston. I dislike Owen and Gwen. I really dislike the empty characterisation within the scripts. The characters don't learn within the space of an episode, let alone the series. In the final ep, Owen shot Jack in the head, and the crew turned against Jack but by the end they all hugged? It didn't make sense.
I know! I don't think they even mentioned the whole 'hey you shot me' in the season 2 opener...! I think they're just relying on the fact that people love Cpt. Jack & hoping that that's enough to get hem through. So lazy.
Hee. Who doesn't? He's no Wesley though. Did you have the Buffy & Angel love?
I thought Wes was a prat until 'Angel'. Then I saw leather clad motor biker Wes. I loved him then (heh).
I was pretty democratic about Buffyverse. I didn't read femslash or het, although I thought the Tara/ Willow relationship was one of the best- drawn lesbian relationships on tv. And, I liked Buffy (I love that Joss respects women).
If the author could make a believe it, I'd read it. But, yeah I have a particular soft- spot for Wes.
I think that's why I love Wes so much...that he could from this giant ass to the cool damaged guy who goes into a fight guns blazing (and as I also love John Woo...). Plus, you know, scruffy Wes was pretty.
It was my first fandom and the one I discovered fanfiction for. I got totally addicted to anything by thebratqueen. Her Angel/Wes stuff was so good. Aww now I feel all nostalgic.
I love that Joss respects women Me too. His shows always have multi-faceted women in and I'll still watch anything he does. I'm hoping that Doll House thing happens because that sounds cool.
On a completely different note - I signed up for big bang!!!!!! WTF. I think of gone crazy seeing as how I've never written a fic. Why brain, why?
Me too. I think Protocol might still be my favourite fanfic of all time...I still go back to it on & off. It's sad that she doesn't seem to write anymore.
I know! I'm scared. I do...I'm just not sure that it something anyone but me may be interested in. If I send you a message with my idea, do you mind telling me if it's completely lame? Feel free to tell me a) if its an imposition or b) its crap. I've got another fic started that's at around 9000 words (although I'm a bit stuck at the minute) but its a slow one that's kinda plotless and I wanted to do something more fun. Will stop panic rambling now.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-15 07:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-15 08:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-15 10:34 pm (UTC)Do you guys have disputes that last months> I'd imagine you have arbitration laws?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-16 10:15 pm (UTC)I don't think we've had lengthy strikes here since the eighties...and I've no knowledge whatsoever about arbitration laws...What about you?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-17 07:01 am (UTC)Howard dissolved the IRC and set about allowing employers to make employees work longer for less money with fewer protections. Now, Rudd is PM and says he will get rid of the majority of this legislation. He's only been in for a short time, we'll see what happens.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-17 09:36 pm (UTC)The original system seems really fair - I presume the IRC were independent to both sides? And even if you were having to still work when things were bad, at least you knew something was getting done.
Wow. That couldn't have made Howard very popular (except for with big business). It would seem it would be a good move to reverse that.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-20 03:24 am (UTC)Yeah, a neutral arbitrator is best, much better than the "we'll starve you out" attitude that employers take wih Unions in the US. And, Howard's dream - employeee and employer "bargaining" one- on- one.
On a totally different topic, I read a lot of happy fans had just watched the first ep of the second series (?) of Torchwood. What do you think of the show?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-20 11:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-20 03:07 pm (UTC)How does Howard really expect employees to negotiate with employers fairly? That's nuts. At the end of the day, one side quite obviously holds all the power.
Ahhh. Torchwood. I so want to like it but...it's just not good. I like all the actors fine, but the scripts are so hit and miss. And, hell, I love Stargate Atlantis so I'm pretty easy to please :-)
I did watch the first episode of series 2 because of James Marsters and it was more fun then usual, but I think that's because Spike was in it. Seriously. Evil but lovable, check. Flirty, check. Violent, check. Quips & puns, check etc. It was only the hair & outfit that were different. Do you like it?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-21 08:40 am (UTC)Ahhh Spike, yeah, I have a soft spot for Spike.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-21 09:17 pm (UTC)Hee. Who doesn't? He's no Wesley though. Did you have the Buffy & Angel love?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-22 06:22 am (UTC)I was pretty democratic about Buffyverse. I didn't read femslash or het, although I thought the Tara/ Willow relationship was one of the best- drawn lesbian relationships on tv. And, I liked Buffy (I love that Joss respects women).
If the author could make a believe it, I'd read it. But, yeah I have a particular soft- spot for Wes.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-22 10:11 pm (UTC)It was my first fandom and the one I discovered fanfiction for. I got totally addicted to anything by
I love that Joss respects women Me too. His shows always have multi-faceted women in and I'll still watch anything he does. I'm hoping that Doll House thing happens because that sounds cool.
On a completely different note - I signed up for big bang!!!!!! WTF. I think of gone crazy seeing as how I've never written a fic. Why brain, why?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-23 08:19 am (UTC)thebratqueen? I inhaled her stuff!
*looking at the big bang outline* You brave thing! 20,000 words? Due in June? Got an idea of the plot yet?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-23 11:57 pm (UTC)I know! I'm scared. I do...I'm just not sure that it something anyone but me may be interested in. If I send you a message with my idea, do you mind telling me if it's completely lame? Feel free to tell me a) if its an imposition or b) its crap. I've got another fic started that's at around 9000 words (although I'm a bit stuck at the minute) but its a slow one that's kinda plotless and I wanted to do something more fun. Will stop panic rambling now.
Oh! I hear Jensen is going to Australia :-)