surfarthur
-
Content Count
1077 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by surfarthur
-
-
I would like to believe that too MB, but sadly the reality is that many employers, from small business owners to multinational corporations would love to pay their employees next to nothing for working an 80 hour week. We do need the unions, we certainly can't trust the government to get it right. However, the unions could definitely do with having their wings clipped at the moment. They have too much power over employers at the moment and that needs to change. However every worker should continue to have the right to representation. Not everyone is good at negotiating fair pay and terms of employment for themselves. In fact, i believe that most people are pretty bad at it. Sure, I do not have your experience of being a business owner, and while I sympathise with you it terms of the cost of meeting the current employment regulations, high labour costs and difficulties dealing with negligent and criminal acts by your employees, that does not change the fact that all employees should be entitled to representation, or the fact that many business owners and multinational companies do not care enough about their workforce to look after them appropriately. Balance is what is needed, not an end to the unions. That would spell disaster for the average worker in Australia.
-
I completely disagree that unions are not needed in Australia. I will concede that they can be greedy and use "blackmailing" tactics, but employers are very good at this too. Not all unions are greedy, just like not all employers are greedy. If the unions disappeared from Australia, I think that it would quickly become difficult for employees across the country to get a fair go.
On the flipside, I do believe that in Australia, the unions currently have too much power over employers, making it difficult to sack people even when they are grossly negligent in their duties as an employee and making life generally difficult for employers, particularly small business owners who do not have the same abilities to fight back when union demands are too much for them. Many small businesses have failed, and many more will fail in the future if it does not become easier for them to comply with employment regulations and a highly unionised workforce.
What I am trying to say is that what we need is balance. Without unions, there cannot be balance, and within a relatively short timeframe, a fair days work for a fair days pay would become a thing of the past in Australia. Equally employers need to be able to do business without facing excessive cost of compliance with employment and other regulations and often high labour costs making it difficult to survive.
By the way, I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of a union.
-
So long as they are NOT the EST bindings they should be fine, but you will need an adapter plate (I think they are called 4x4 plates) the to get the holes to line up right, it would replace the original Burton circular plate that comes with the standard Burton bindings. You should be able to get them online for cheap, I would expect no more than $30 + shipping.
-
Thanks for sharing this BM. Signed the petition, I find it hard to beleive that snowboarding is not in the special olympics. I hope that changes soon. Those athletes are an inspiration, I like to think that if i ever lost a leg, i would be able to continue snowboarding, and these guys prove that it is possible.
-
I am booked on Cathay Pacific after being let down by Qantas!
-
There seems to be a lot of this booking a Qantas flight and ending up on a Jetstar flight. Do you still get the benefits of the "premium carrier" or do you get stuck with all the "budget carrier" no frills?
-
The thing that I would take out of all of this, is that the board is actually the least important bit of kit (don't jump down my throat yet, keep reading and if you don't agree you can attack me then), but the one that everyone is most concerned with. I find it the most exciting item to look for (I mean gloves just don't do it for me if you know what I mean). Getting good fitting boots is probably number 1 priority. If your boots don't fit well it wont matter if you are riding a 142 or a 180 or anywhere inbetween, you won't be having fun. Gloves, good dual lens goggles, socks and good quality base layers (definitely no cotton) are the next items, these will massively improve your comfort on the slopes in all kinds of conditions. Good outer layers are next, with high waterproofing and breath-ability ratings, i wouldn't be buying anything with a rating under 10000mm, 10000g. These items will last you longer than your first board and make sure whatever you are riding, you will be warm, dry and comfortable.
As you can see by reading this topic, and many of the other board related topics, it has taken most people on here a while to get a board that really works for them and their riding style. Partly, this is because when you start, you don't know what style of riding you will enjoy most. It took me three boards to get one that I love, but if I took it to NZ I wouldn't pull it out of the bag unless there was fresh snow, or perhaps late in day for some slushy runs, as a 159 Burton Supermodel for me would not be fun on generally icy conditions. I would be going back to my trusty 155 for the bulk of a NZ snow trip in all probability. To be honest, if you do decide to get a board, you don't want to go too short, not for Japan, but anything from 154-158 would be ok. You can always hire a longer, or shorter board to see how much of a difference it makes, this will help in your future board buying decisions.
-
Mainpeak Osborne park have their annual sale on saturday, 50% off lots of stuff, tables in the carpark etc. Get along early, it gets very busy.
-
Great photos Muikabochi, always enjoy your photos
-
I think that the unions are trying to stop jobs going offshore, not so much "jobs for life". I would be pretty upset if the company I work for decided to make me redundant, then have someone offshore employed to do the same job. I guess one important thing to note is that if the Australian public truly want Qantas to remain an Australian airline staffed by Australian workers, they will need to be prepared to pay a premium. It does not appear that the general public here are prepared to do this. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too.
-
I am also a big Led Zep Fan, Rock on Mick
-
Apparently the Japanese Govt have printed trillions of yen, in order to lower the yen against the dollar, hope it works as i still haven't bought any yen.
-
My understanding is that after the 42 day negotiation period, if no agreement is reached, then the fair work Australia umpire will decide what the agreement will look like, and this will be legally binding for both parties. Not 100% sure on that though, but it would seem that if that is the case, then no more disruptions to Qantas flights from industrial action.
-
All industrial action by both sides has been terminated by fair work Australia. Planes should be back in the air this afternoon.
-
Those blue lights are everywhere in Perth, nearly every publick toilet, petrol station toilets etc. Also needle disposal bins in most public toilets too.
-
Hey Onji, I will be in Rusutsu 19th -26th Jan if you are around then I would be keen for to catch up for a few runs/beers.
-
Would you rather Australia's national carrier be dismantled and moved to Singapore?
-
Apparently Jetstar will continue as normal
-
probably will be, the unions have been talking about industrial action possibly until the middle of next year, so I guess the negotiations going on tonight will be very interesting. Don't count on it being over quickly, neither side seems willing to give any ground.
-
So glad we are flying Cathay Pacific this year
-
On shaky ground here but... generally the Chinese I have come across in my travels, and there have been many, do seem to have a fairly low level of basic manners and, whats the word, 'friendliness'.
Is that unrepresentative?
I have felt the same when I have been shopping in Tokyo and been barged out of the way, elbowed in the ribs and been queue jumped. I would like to think that kind of behavior is only due to a small minority if ill-behaved people, as much as like Brits in Spain act. Generally well behaved but a spoil minority give the rest a bad name.
Or Aussies in Niseko
-
Here is my pick for the most unlistenable album of all time.
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst
Enjoy!
-
The drivere of the vehicle has been arrested. The passersby scumbags have been caught and are being questioned by police. The family are seeking legal action.
Lets talk about the family... where were they while there 2 year old walked out onto a road by herself, where were they while she lay there fatally injured? The family are seeking legal action? They should be facing legal action for criminal negligence instead.
-
That looks like a sweet pow surfer
Quantas........Grounded!
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
I am flying Qantas in 2 weeks time for work. Lets hope that the experience is a good one. I guess the one thing I can count on is that my flight won't be disrupted by industrial disputes.