$90 now!
Posted by Bill, April 27th, 2009 - under Australian politics, Bosses pay, Politicians pay, Trade unions, Unemployed, Unions, Wages.
I don’t know if politicians deserve an increase of $90 a week in their electoral publication allowance, an allowance which if they don’t spend it becomes their income at the end of each year.
But I do know pensioners and the unemployed deserve huge increases in their allowances and that all workers need and should get large real wages increases.
$90 a week for all of them seems to me a sensible increase. It would certainly stimulate demand across the country.
If it is good enough for politicians it is good enough for those they serve.
For workers on the average wage $90 is an increase of about 7. 5 percent. For pensioners and the unemployed it is an increase of between 18 and 22 percent.
We deserve it. For the last 30 years capital has grown fat on our work, yet squandered the gains on the endless drive to accumulate, accumulate, accumulate.
We can afford it. The wages share of gross national income is at it slowest in over 40 years and that of profit at its highest ever recorded. And still the bosses want more sacrifices from us.
The bosses should make the sacrifices. Tighten their belts, not ours.
Enough is enough. Join the ninety now! campaign.
It will take a real fight to win justice for workers, pensioners and social security recipients but we can do it. We have the strength.
Workers, follow your leaders. Demand an extra $90 a week now for all workers and for pensioners and the unemployed.