573,000 unemployed and the government are satisfied.Peter Costello commended this result in his budget speech. Even if we were to believe this figure it still means more than half a million living at a level much lower than that is recognised as poverty.
The point is though that the real figure is very much higher. A lot of people simply don't register for the dole.
Understandably, they find it too much hassle. To make the figures look better, the government does its utmost to make it as hard as possible. It is not easy satisfying their demands for "mutual obligation" so many say "why bother" that is if they know that their unemployment is seasonal and work is around the corner. But they are still unemployed and their non-registry makes it look as if the government is improving things in relation to unemployment.
Supposedly there is the same proportion of the work force unemployed today as there was ten years ago But the finance reporter on ABC TV News has pointed out that we actually work ten percent less in terms of hours worked.
How is this explained? The government has redefined full time work to include many who should only be classified as part time.
We will be shortly facing another Federal election. Neither party Liberal nor Labor is promising anything, which will provide significantly more jobs, let alone fight unemployment.
Mark Latham's learn or earn ultimatum will only make miserable for young people who hate education. Half a million unemployed forced to do training only leads to half a million-trained unemployed. It does not create jobs.
Turning unemployed into students is also another way of fudging the figures. Whether studying or not we are still living in poverty. In fact there is a disincentive to study as those on TEAS receive less than the dole.
The Liberals are in fact quite happy with half a million unemployed. Any more, they say will lead to a rise in interest rates. For them, interest rates come before our survival.
They are also quite happy because they can utilize our labour for nothing -- work for the dole. Under work for the dole many unemployed do all sorts of jobs including concreting, painting, land clearing carpentry, nurses and teachers aid work. This is work, which previously was carried out by fully paid full time workers.
Work for the dole is a job attacking exercise, not a job creating one. Yet Labor remains silent. And the ACTU whilst in policy opposes work for the dole does nothing actively to fight it. They also do nothing to fight unemployment in general.
An important demand in the struggle against unemployment is for a shorter working week without loss of pay. .It's simple. As workers are laid off the working week should be reduced so there are enough jobs for all of us.
The unions understand this in principle. A reduction of the working week is stated policy for every union and for the ACTU. Once upon a time they fought for a thirty five-hour week. This has fallen by the way side. Now they hope to pursue Labor to adopt better policies. In the pursuit of this futility they have sold out both their own members and the unemployed.
StandUp! Believes that way to force others to listen on the issue of unemployment is a strong and militant unemployed organisation. This is what we are committed to build. If you wish to join us or give us your support in any way contact us now.
By StandUp NEWS posted 21 July 04
standup@hotmail.com
Phone 95992717
Fridays Mobile 0423 670 417
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