Episode 94: The boomer fantasy of wage spirals, the failed states of America and good news about Queensland coal

"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison

Van Badham and Ben Davison emerge from their COVID isolation to breakdown the real story behind the wages debate in Australia.

The reality doesn't match the ideological chest beating from the business lobby who were quick to claim a Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) mandate for a wages cap (their isn't one) to stop a "wages spiral" and that Sally McManus, leader of Australian Unions, had called the RBA governor a "boomer". (She didn't).

Van and Ben look at the ways collective bargaining is failing, how it can/could work to lift wages, some innovations like the TWU/Uber agreement and why more and more workers are banding together to take action across whole sectors (like the teacher unions in New South Wales).

Across the board union members are earning more, so join your union at australianunions.org.au/wow

Of course Liberal Leader Peter Dutton was quick to jump on the "wage spiral" rhetoric along with his anti-teacher culture war so Van and Ben look at why Liberal's in Australia might be using American style tactics.

This episode takes an extended look into the US Supreme Court, the fundamentalists that Trump appointed to the court, the activism they are now displaying in overturning Roe V Wade, removing gun control laws, imposing religion in schools and directing federal funds to religious organisations.

With the January 6 Commission hearings in full swing Van gives a clear eyed analysis of Trump, and his enablers, lack of commitment to democracy, dedication to culture wars and power at all costs approach.

The good news is that Queensland is imposing a form of progressive taxation on coal companies!

And as always we acknowledge the Cadre and Extend the Reach supporters who make it possible for us to reach even more people at www.buymeacoffee.com/weekonwednesday