Protest March (no puns)

"2! 4! 6! 8! Supersize my pay, mate!"

"What do you want?!"

"12 dollars an hour!!"

"When do you want it?"

"Now!!"



I attended the protest demonstration at Queens St this afternoon. I did NOT participate in the strike, just in case you are thinking otherwise. Oh well, I wanted to but I repeat, I wasn't a participant of the rally.

Here are some interesting facts I read on the flyer I received:

20 years ago, McDonald's paid a minimum rate of $12.22 in today's dollars, as well as overtime and allowances. Today a 17 year old working 10 hours on the weekend earns $76 before tax, but back in 1984 they were guaranteed a minimum of $181.

New Zealand's tax rate for workers' wages < $38,001 is 19.5% (source: IRD NZ), which means to say, my take home pay for a $10/hr job is $8.05/hr.

This brings about some thoughts as I am typing this entry. I guess Sillyporeans are lucky eh, not having to pay tax as a part time worker. Then again, one might argue that the part time wages in New Zealand is so much higher (my ass).

Tell me, how are you going to compensate me with the costs of living in New Zealand? The price of all commodities, except land (or land-related recreations in particular golfing), real estate, vehicles are absolutely insane.
I don't know about New Zealand politics and I'm not ready to engage in some shit political talk or debate over here. What I know is raising minimum wages hurts both in short and long run but the government should look into other strategies of keeping costs low for corporate firms like reducing business tax rates..

And I totally agree with Unite Union that "low pay affects the entire community". $12 is still the way to go, buggers!

That's my flatmate Scott, proudly with his badge on.

post entry notes: Much as I recognise that Singapore has been trying its very best to maintain a balance of economic interests between the companies and the employees. Forget about the tripardite relationship among the union, government and employers but indeed, because of our strategic location in the world map, it puts us in a very advantageous and very disadvantageous position.

As John Kerry mentioned boldly in his parliamentary speech "We are losing good American jobs to countries like India and China", likewise Singapore is losing jobs to our counterparts. Part time jobs are losing their appeal and who are we to blame for the abundant jobs (much snapped up by foreigners) floating around the market but ourselves. Up the wages of our part timers in Singapore? I don't think it's a pragmatic choice.. already full timers are earning peanuts, monkeying around, let alone part timers.....
I support free lancing though!

Welcome aboard, folks.