renth

This is a worry:

"The economic downturn is adding to tension in the workplace, with some workers protesting yesterday at a decision by a Mandurah firm to retrench some Australians while keeping migrants employed."

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=128481

DrWho

Reckon we can expect to see more of this sort of thing over the next year or more...

Catch

Maybe the burma lads where better workers.

SNH

Surely you can see why this would anger people.

It's just one thing in string of dramas like this recently. Australians want to keep things Australian, and to have an opportunity in their own country.

Just look at how people in the UK complain about European migrants.

Catch

The only way forward is to abandon 457 visa's.Australian people may be patriotic,but company owners are just as greedy as their counterparts in the uk.

Mipik

And that is most probably the truth.

Sammy T

Not quite the same thing but someone had a go at me in Coles yesterday.

I came across a new section with "British" foods, marmite, Bird's custard, Alpen, Colman's mustard etc and was smiling to myself thinking they must be mad if they think I'm paying those prices! Anyway this woman comes up behind me and makes a mumbled comment about the food, I answered back politely (in my still very English accent) that I wouldn't buy any of them as they were far too expensive - upon hearing my accent she went off on one, ranting about us taking over and said if I didn't like the Aussie foods I could bugger off back to where I came from

I had made no comment about the "Aussie" food at all and don't have a problem with it. I felt really embarassed as other shoppers were eavesdropping, I have not come across anything like this in our 8 months here apart from the usual jokes of course, which I accept in good grace

Maybe this is a sign of things to come, I hope not.......

Sam

pompeyblonde

Su Well yeah obviously people are pissed off and upset to lose their jobs, as has been said these things are often used to get rid of the workers they don't want, who are slackers or trouble makers or whatever.

Presumably they would have had to follow a process to decide who goes? or they could end up in the tribunal?

DrWho

Under 100 employees and you don't have to do bugger all I believe...

Certainly when I wanted to get rid of someone that had been here 4.5 years the lawyers said just tell him and give him his notice... that's it...

NKSK version 2

I know how I'd make the decision in my business - all other things being equal, whoever works the most efficiently wil be kept on.
And having seen how some Australians work - treating Mondays as a day off, ringing in sick at the slightest opportunity (and having a 'right' to use sick days) - I know who I'd probably end up sacking.

dave99

In my experience aussie workers tend to be a lot more laid back (lazy), tend to call in sick or have to take many days off for other reasons. Thats probably why they kept the migrants, as they tend to be a lot more focused and harder working.

In lower scale non office type jobs, things like shop work aussies often dont turn up for their shifts at all, on an average day at a large store 2-3 people wont turn up and a couple more will call in sick. They just think its how things are done and dont think theres a problem with that. Personally it annoys me

pompeyblonde

Ah yes! I was forgetting little Johnnie Howard.......

DrWho

And notice how quickly KRudd has repealed it...!

Bernieboy

Learn to speak with an Irish accent,everybody loves us

The Flintstones

Did you tell her she was a bit slow because we've already taken over, hence the lion and union jack on the Tasmanian state flag.