ACTU poll finds one in two people fear a US-style ‘working poor’ economic future

ONE in two people are worried Australian workers could emulate America’s working poor, according to an ACTU poll.

 

A February poll of 1000 people by the Australian Council of Trade Unions to be released today found people were extremely concerned the numbers of people stuck in low-paid insecure jobs were set to soar.

The issue is set to be debated at a summit today in Canberra, where Prime Minister Julia Gillard will speak.

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The survey follows Australian Bureau of Statistics research released just last month that showed Australia is in the grip of an underemployment epidemic, with 784,000 people struggling to find more hours to earn more pay.

About 55 per cent of people surveyed were very or extremely concerned about the growing numbers of an American-style “working poor” in Australia and that their children would not have access to good jobs here when they grew up.

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Similar numbers were deeply worried about a rising inequality of incomes and the future of Australian manufacturing and “smart” industries.

More than 40 per cent thought advances in technology would replace the need for human workers.

Women and older people were more likely to worry, as were people who had needed to sign up to welfare at some stage in their life.

It comes as the Federal Parliament examines a Greens bill that would allow long-term workers to apply to the Fair Work Commission to argue why their employer should move them from casual to permanent contracts.

The ACTU survey also tested perceptions of the $246-a-week New Start allowance.

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Younger people and those who had never received welfare were more likely to dub that amount “too generous”, compared to welfare recipients and older people, who said it was “not high enough”.

Source: news.com.au Picture:shm.com.au
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