Beware the power of unions with new bargaining strategy

Any experienced employer will tell you that it’s better to work with organised labour than an ­indecisive rabble. However, Janet Albrechtsen has accurately highlighted what happens when a minister puts unions ahead of the nation and is prepared to see private enterprise sent to the wall because a notoriously militant union is permitted to do so (“ALP business model a boon for unions, a bust for economy”, 23/11). How the MUA became so entrenched in the decision-making processes of the tug-boat company in question beggars belief. But then again, we have previously seen the same level of union influence in the car manufacturing industry, and we know what the outcome was there. The Albanese government was elected to rule fairly for us all, not just for the unions.

Tom Moylan, Melbourne, Vic

The proposed industrial relations legislation currently bring debated in the Senate seems to be very much in favour of the union movement, which is not surprising given the strong relationship between Labor and the unions. In its current form, businesses, especially the small ones, are going to take one hell of a beating. This once again proves that the concept of small business is anathema to Labor’s leftist ideology. When Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and Bill Kelty forged their famous accord there was goodwill on both sides and compromises were made. Labor no longer has a Hawke or Keating and the unions no longer have a Bill Kelty. Australia’s ­future is all the poorer for that.

Peter Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Tony Burke claims small business is exempt from the bargaining system he is trying to set up. Respectfully, minister, you are dreaming. He can say that because businesses with fewer than 15 employees are exempt. My business has 30 employees but is still a small business. In my sector, the top 20 or so law firms are big business. There’s no way I want to be grouped with them. The solution is to redefine small business to more than 50 or even more than 100 employees. Our type of business is operating in a different world to the big law and accounting firms that charge $800 an hour or more. We should not be dragged along on their coat-tails.

Paul Everingham, Hamilton, Qld

Has this ALP government fallen into the bad days witnessed during the early period of the Whitlam government when legislation was rushed into the parliament without thorough consideration of its impact and its effect on all ­aspects of Australian life through businesses both large and small. We saw inflation, a wages spiral, poor productivity and actions by trades unions. Tony Burke’s IR bill seems to fit that mould and one can only hope that the crossbenchers in the Senate led by David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie hold the line and are not talked into supporting what so many see as a bad bill, detrimental to the ­entire nation.

Nick Bailey, Ngunnawal, ACT

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe deserves to be listened to because he is apolitical. He is correct in his emphasis on Australia getting the controllable, supply-side factors of the economy – labour mobility and flexibility, energy ­security and an improved productivity environment – in place, as against uncontrollable geo-­political forces (“RBA chief warns ­Albanese over IR changes”, 23/11). His concern – that the rushed transitioning towards a green economy will result in price hikes and volatility, exacerbating inflation and going against the aim of improved productivity – should be heeded by all. His concern that the global capital stock required for the green transitioning may come under increasing pressure is no surprise given that renewables are the least-efficient form of energy production, are short-lived and involve a convoluted array of transmission, energy storage and back-up systems, all of which run the risk of redundancy as better technologies come into play.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic.

Janet Albrechtsen has, as usual, ­illustrated with great clarity how the new Labor government is bending over backwards to create industry policy that overwhelmingly favours the unions. While it’s true that the unions are the lifeblood of Labor’s wealth thanks to a superannuation system designed decades ago by Labor, the less militant among us should remember the unions represent less than 10 per cent of real-world workers in Australia. When do the rest of us get a say?

K MacDermott, Binalong, NSW