Markets & Justice

Markets & Justice
Freely operating markets yield a just outcome?

White Australia Has A Black History

White Australia Has A Black History
Showing posts with label Fair Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fair Work. Show all posts

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Consumer question of the day --- do you do know what FMCG stands for?

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or consumer packaged goods (CPG) are products that are sold quickly and at relatively low cost. Examples include non-durable goods such as soft drinks, toiletries, over-the-counter drugs, processed foods and many other consumables.[1][2]

In contrast, durable goods or major appliances such as kitchen appliances are generally replaced over a period of several years. The term was coined by Neil H. Borden in The Concept of the Marketing Mix in 1965 (1996, Prentice-Hall, Inc.).
FMCG have a short shelf life, either as a result of high consumer demand or because the product deteriorates rapidly. Some FMCGs, such as meat, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and baked goods, are highly perishable. Other goods, such as alcohol, toiletries, pre-packaged foods, soft drinks, and cleaning products, have high turnover rates.
Though the profit margin made on FMCG products is relatively small (more so for retailers than the producers/suppliers), they are generally sold in large quantities; thus, the cumulative profit on such products can be substantial. FMCG is probably the most classic case of low margin and high volume business. (This information is from Wikipedia)
To be a pro-active consumer has always taken quite a bit of thought. 

Consumer boycotts have a long history:
1.   Boycotts as we know them today began in the nineteenth century and had quite an effect.
2.   In modern times, we are concerned about what is being added to or put into the food we purchase. As well, we are concerned about chemicals in our cleaning products and our cosmetics.

3.   We are concerned about animal welfare - cruelty, experimental research etc., lack of humane guidelines for industrial animals.  

4.   Some of us, but not enough, want to purchase Australian products.  The time has long since gone (probably late 1960s/early 1970s) when a consumer could purchase in a supermarket a trolley full of products which were produced wholly in Australia by Australian labour employed by Australian-owned companies.  

5.   Labelling is often far from truthful and/or transparent.  Major powerful food and grocery organisations such as the Australian Food & Grocery Council lobby strongly against simpler and easily understood labelling which is honest about point of origin.  So one is left to think that in the confusion there is profit!  Perhaps even an escape from Australian standards?

6.  Consumers in the 21st century have now to be conscious of Fair Trade and trade in goods produced by forced, exploited and/or slave labour --- even when those goods are made in Australia.
Major corporations are not necessarily cleanskins on this issue.  Some of these are multi-national corporations who do one thing in Australia and another in countries where they can get away with less stringent watchfulness and where consumers are unable to demand high standards.

There are no consumer visits to the Nestle factory in Tongala.
The person interested in how these well-known commonly used products
and would like to see how they are produced -
well, you won't get past the reception office and the security there.
Considering that generations of Australians have been supporting
the Tongala community, this seems a bit rich.


Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Senate Inquiry into slave and exploited labour in Australia's fresh food chain. Woolworths admits moral responsibility but not legal responsibility.

Cross-posted with The Network

NUW National Union of WorkersUNITY IS STRENGTH Call 1300 275 689

Today saw NUW members speak at the first Senate Inquiry into Australia's temporary work visas. The NUW remains firm:
  • Coles and Woolworths have the power to fix this
  • Labour hire agencies need to be regulated
  • No workers should be forced to work for poverty wages in our fresh food supply chain
  • We cannot allow a two-class system to remain in Australia. Every worker counts!
Woolworths also appeared at today's Senate Inquiry, and admitted moral responsibility for underpaid farm workers.

However, Woolworths are still refusing to meet with workers and the NUW to talk about a Fair Food Agreement to eradicate exploitation from our fresh food. Help put the pressure on and sign the petition here!

And remember, we all have friends and family that can help. Share this petition with your community.

NUW's Godfrey Moase, Winnie Lin, Caterina Cinanni, Sherry Huang & George Robertson with Senator Sue Lines & Senator Deborah O'Neill

If you haven't watched the Four Corners program that exposed exploitation, you can watch it here. In unity,
Tim Kennedy
National Secretary
National Union of Workers
National Union of Workers
Email: nuwassist@nuw.org.au
Call: 1300 275 689
National: 833 Bourke St, Docklands VIC 3008
Click here for office locations
Website: www.nuw.org.au

© Copyright National Union of Workers


Previous posts referencing this topic 
can be found on The Network site at:

Part 1 - Slavery in Australia. Is the 'Let 'er rip" attitude on visas for overseas workers going to be stopped? The Robinvale experience

Part 2 - Names have been named in "Slaving Away".  Here they are recorded below and their responses.

Part 3: The conscious consumer becomes the aware and ethical shopper.  Destroy the slavers from the checkouts of Australia!

What are you buying? How did it get to you?  Whose hands has it passed through?


 

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Picked and packed by exploited labour



The temporary visa program is broken and facilitates the gross exploitation of migrant workers, a view confirmed by the Four Corners program that aired last night.

Urgent action must be taken by the Federal Government to clamp down and regulate the entire temporary visa and labour hire system and remove rogue operators.

There should be an immediate halt to any expansion of the temporary work visa program until the full outcome of the Senate Inquiry is known.

National Union of Workers

http://www.actu.org.au/actu-media/media-releases/2015/temporary-visa-program-front-for-slave-labour

Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Wage Theft - defrauding workers in the U.S.A. Workers are supported by Interfaith Worker Justice.

In Australia, we have a system of wage justice which, while it is not perfect, is far away from the experience of many workers in the USA. While the phrase "wage theft" is rarely heard in Australia, many of the actions cited in this video as wage theft do occur in Australia. They are usually dealt with by the Fair Work Commission or the relevant trade union. To find out more about Interfaith Worker Justice, please go here.

Post by Interfaith Worker Justice.

Cross-posted with permission from
Ballarat Interfaith Network's blog,
Beside The Creek.