
Issue No 36		22 October 1999

Trades Hall

Naomi Steer on Fast Capitalism

"Workers in Australia are increasingly losing control over their work and family lives because of the effects of "fast capitalism ."

Participants in a recent Seminar focussing on Work and Family heard from a number of speakers how many workers and in particular women feel totally swamped by the requirements of work and family life.

The term fast capitalism is an emerging description of the current social and economic environment workers find themselves in. Employers are demanding total committment from their workers because they argue this is necessary to maintain their competitive edge.This has meant a declining quality of life for many people including increased levels of stress, reduced times spent with friends and families and overall disatisfaction with their lives.

The Seminar was organised by the NSW Department of Industrial Relations and the NSW Family Taskforce as part of their ongoing consultations over developing improved distribution of family friendly policies across all workplaces.

Speakers at the Seminar included Gillian Whitehouse from Queensland University, Professor Graeme Russell from Macquarie Univerity , Helen Glezner from the Swinbourne Institue of Technology and Jane Wagner from the newly established NSW Office Of Childcare.

Key concerns involved the difficulties women faced in accomodating work and family needs.At the top end of the social class families are engaging domestic help with household needs.Private schools are now offering to the"modern family" new child minding services that include day boarding and pre school centres.In effect a one stop shop for their child minding/schooling needs.

Increasingly double income couples are opting for a childless lifestyle which is the only way many see as the way to accomodate their professional aspirations while maintaining a quality lifestyle.

While family friendly policys exist in many of our large flagship companies many parents dont take advantage of them becauses the workplace culture is opposed to it.Thus the male paradigm of work continues to prevail.

At the other end of the social spectrum women are finding it harder to match their needs of childcare and the requirements of work.This is particularly so given the huge increase in casual work coupled with the federal governemnts defunding of childcare.

While there are no easy answeres to any of these problems participants in the seminar canvassed possible solutions such as improved regulatory regimes for part time and casual workers ,test cases in areas of most concern ie casuals and hours of work, and better education of both workers and employers of their employment entitlements particularly in the small business area..

Overall women needed to remobilise to bring about a broader discusion in the community on these issues.

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Issue 36 contents

Interview: When Allï¿½s Not WEL
Suzanne Hammond explains how the federal governmentï¿½s decision to cut off funding to the Womensï¿½ Electoral Lobby wil impact on all women.

Republic: The Great Constitutional Swindle
In an upcoming book, Peter Botsman argues the blanding out of Australian consitutional history is one of the big barriers to the Republican cause.

Unions: Beaten by the Clock
Ron Callus from ACIRRT counts the social cost of increased working hours.

International: Pakistan Military Urged to Protect Workers' Rights
The ICFTU is urging General Pervez Musharraf, who yesterday seized power in a military coup, to take urgent steps to ensure a return to constitutional rule in the shortest possible time.

History: How the Cunning Fox Survived
Len Fox recently turned 94. He celebrated the event by sending out copies of his latest publication to friends; a booklet of his selected pencil and crayon sketches since 1925, with autobiographical commentaries.

Satire: Direct Electionists to Keep Voting No
Pro-direct election republicans who plan to vote ï¿½noï¿½ in the upcoming referendum have announced plans to extend their approach to every future election held in Australia.

Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
Read the latest issue of Labour review, a resource for union officials and students.

Review: Bowing down before Globalzilla
It is my experience that books that have the word "globalization" in the title should be avoided at all costs.

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» Combet Steps Up To The Plate

» Thirty Hours at the Wheel - Then Sacked for Complaining

» Reithï¿½s Plan for Universities Exposed

» Hockey Sticks With the Banks

» Push to Downgrade Industrial Tribunals

» Peace Stalks the Gong as Matters Bows Out

» Rock the Republic - Itï¿½s Time

» Guest Report

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Piers Watch

» Vizard Critics Peddling Lies

» Republic Soapbox

» Barbies and Kens Eye High Office

» Guilty! I Agree with Howard

» Egan Speaks - Des Moore's No Friend of Mine!

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