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On Series (Little Books, Big Ideas)
On Fairness
In the land of the fair go what is the true cost of growing inequality?
Most of us believe in fairness. Why then do we have creeping inequality in the land of the fair go? The answer lies in stagnant wage rises, gender pay inequity, insecure work and the lack of real opportunities for all while corporations are still consuming large profits and executives claim record bonuses. Sally McManus confronts these truths every day. In On Fairness, she explores the true cost of social injustice and argues for advancing Australia fair.
Most of us believe in fairness. Why then do we have creeping inequality in the land of the fair go? The answer lies in stagnant wage rises, gender pay inequity, insecure work and the lack of real opportunities for all while corporations are still consuming large profits and executives claim record bonuses. Sally McManus confronts these truths every day. In On Fairness, she explores the true cost of social injustice and argues for advancing Australia fair.
277 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2019
6 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Sally McManus
3 books4 followersSally McManus was elected as Secretary of the ACTU in 2017, the first woman to hold this position since the creation of the ACTU in 1927. Sally has had a range of jobs; from a pizza deliverer to a cleaner while studying for her degree in Philosophy where she achieved First Class Honours and was also the President of the University Union. The AFR Power List has voted Sally as the fourth most powerful person in Australia in recognition of the role she holds and her leadership of the ACTU.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 5, 2022
On Fairness is a little red book that packs an almighty punch. Informative, inspiring and timely, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus eloquently argues the important place of collective resistance in modern society. It reminded me that we can never be complacent and also why I'm a bit of a socialist at heart...
Mere hours after her election as the ACTU's first ever female Secretary, McManus fronted for a television interview with former 7.30 Report host Leigh Sales. Sales attempted a live "gotcha" moment, by asking McManus to rule out future illegal industrial action. McManus responded
McManus's comments were condemned in the conservative Australian news media, but immediately won her favour among members of Australia's unionised workforce and a vast number of others who oppose the infiltration of neoliberalist ideals (including the suppression of protest activity) through Australian economic and political systems.
I've uploaded several of my marked quotes from On Fairness to the book page. They provide a glimpse of McManus's insightful disection of the neoliberal ideology, its mechanism of privatising state assets, promoting profit-driven corporate motivations, systematically eroding workers' conditions and rights, resulting in growing wealth inequality and a lack of innovation.
On Fairness is a fascinating read for anyone interested in politics, economics and society. It asks us what type of society we want to live in, or perhaps leave for our children and grandchildren, and what might be required of us, both individually and collectively, to ensure that the Australian concept of the "fair go" might prevail.
Mere hours after her election as the ACTU's first ever female Secretary, McManus fronted for a television interview with former 7.30 Report host Leigh Sales. Sales attempted a live "gotcha" moment, by asking McManus to rule out future illegal industrial action. McManus responded
“There is no way we’ll be doing that. ... I believe in the rule of law when the law is fair and the law is right, but when it’s unjust I don’t think there’s a problem with breaking it.”
McManus's comments were condemned in the conservative Australian news media, but immediately won her favour among members of Australia's unionised workforce and a vast number of others who oppose the infiltration of neoliberalist ideals (including the suppression of protest activity) through Australian economic and political systems.
I've uploaded several of my marked quotes from On Fairness to the book page. They provide a glimpse of McManus's insightful disection of the neoliberal ideology, its mechanism of privatising state assets, promoting profit-driven corporate motivations, systematically eroding workers' conditions and rights, resulting in growing wealth inequality and a lack of innovation.
On Fairness is a fascinating read for anyone interested in politics, economics and society. It asks us what type of society we want to live in, or perhaps leave for our children and grandchildren, and what might be required of us, both individually and collectively, to ensure that the Australian concept of the "fair go" might prevail.
March 3, 2019
I've never been all that keen on joining things, but I always belonged to my union. And I was quite pleased when my loyalty was rewarded with an official AEU certificate when I retired; I hadn't imagined that anyone would notice. But these days, with union membership in decline, perhaps 35 years' loyalty is special. All I know is, that without the union fighting tooth and nail on our behalf, governments of either stripe would never have given teachers a decent pay rise and our conditions would only ever have got worse. It's not that they're necessarily malevolent, (though one of them certainly was), it's that there's so many of us. Even the smallest pay rise is a big hit to a state education budget; any reduction in teaching conditions (which are really learning conditions, of course) saves a lot of money. The same is true of any workers serving the public: nurses, police, paramedics, firefighters, anyone working in public transport — and of course the public service itself, because they all have the same pay scales across all multiple departments. Any time governments have blown the budget, these workers bear the brunt of the budget cuts and have to fight for a pay rise.
But Sally McManus in this interesting little book On Fairness points out something else: in economies where jobs in a strong public sector are available, private employers have to compete for workers by offering comparable pay and conditions. (p.60) If that's the case, it seems to me that it's actually in the interests of anyone who works for a salary to support the high rates of unionisation in the public sector: private sector workers can sit back and wait for a union to win better pay and conditions, and take the benefit, thank you very much. But no, you are more likely to hear them repeating the shock-jock mantras: 'bloated public service'; overpaid and underworked'; 'fat cat bureaucrats' and 'union thuggery holding the state to ransom'. So I really hope this little book is widely read, because it sets the record straight...
Sally McManus created history when in 2017 she became the first woman to be the secretary of the ACTU; together with Ged Kearney as President (2010-2018) and Michele O'Neil (2018-) she has shattered the cliché of the union thug and opened the way for a new era in Australian unionism. On Fairness is the latest in MUP's Little Books on Big Ideas series. At under 100 pages in a book with the dimensions of a greeting card, these books can be read in no time at all, and always provide something worthwhile to think about.
McManus begins with a transcript of the interview she did on 7.30, four hours after she became ACTU secretary. Sales got her 'gotcha' moment because McManus doesn't play games with the truth...
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/03/03/o...
But Sally McManus in this interesting little book On Fairness points out something else: in economies where jobs in a strong public sector are available, private employers have to compete for workers by offering comparable pay and conditions. (p.60) If that's the case, it seems to me that it's actually in the interests of anyone who works for a salary to support the high rates of unionisation in the public sector: private sector workers can sit back and wait for a union to win better pay and conditions, and take the benefit, thank you very much. But no, you are more likely to hear them repeating the shock-jock mantras: 'bloated public service'; overpaid and underworked'; 'fat cat bureaucrats' and 'union thuggery holding the state to ransom'. So I really hope this little book is widely read, because it sets the record straight...
Sally McManus created history when in 2017 she became the first woman to be the secretary of the ACTU; together with Ged Kearney as President (2010-2018) and Michele O'Neil (2018-) she has shattered the cliché of the union thug and opened the way for a new era in Australian unionism. On Fairness is the latest in MUP's Little Books on Big Ideas series. At under 100 pages in a book with the dimensions of a greeting card, these books can be read in no time at all, and always provide something worthwhile to think about.
McManus begins with a transcript of the interview she did on 7.30, four hours after she became ACTU secretary. Sales got her 'gotcha' moment because McManus doesn't play games with the truth...
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/03/03/o...
June 10, 2019
A pocket book that I believe is very important. With my background and passion for industrial relations legislation, I was very engaged in McManus' insight into workplaces of today and how important it is to join your union as the union is only as strong as its members. I am thankful I found this book at my workplace lunchroom, I hope all employees read this.
February 10, 2019
As Forthright, principled, and inspiring as its author - should be read by everyone.
January 9, 2023
This clarified and reinforced my beliefs in society, economics and politics, and provided good argumentative evidence to support my knowledge about neoliberalism, collective resistance and the Union movement. We shouldn’t feel apathy at the current climate, but continue fighting for what is fair and for the type of future society we want to live in. A powerful little (literally; it’s palm-sized) read I’d recommend to others!
October 10, 2024
direct and impactful summary from Australia labour leader on the political and economic culture fo recent decades that has devalued work, disempowered workers and sought to divide populations against themselves to shelter an elite
you can't fight unfairness with unfairness
you can't fight unfairness with unfairness
July 22, 2019
Despite the tiny size of this book, the contents are broad, far-seeing and thought-provoking. Sally McManus manages to retrace the history of the union movement in Australia and discuss ways of moving forward as a united front. Well worth the time.
March 25, 2019
It's just like a speech or something, not very long and stating the obvious.
The obvious (unfortunately) still needs to be stated and McManus does it well with pertinent examples of what she is talking about and shows the contradictions inherent in the government's anti-union rhetoric.
Just about every sentence is quotable, she is certainly good with words.
Everyone read it, it's neither expensive not long. Just read it.
The obvious (unfortunately) still needs to be stated and McManus does it well with pertinent examples of what she is talking about and shows the contradictions inherent in the government's anti-union rhetoric.
Just about every sentence is quotable, she is certainly good with words.
Everyone read it, it's neither expensive not long. Just read it.
February 21, 2019
No surprises here. As forthright and inspiring as the author, delivered with clarity and passion.
February 11, 2019
Sally McManus - current Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions - writes that as unionists, we must be on the front foot. She has exemplified this spirit as ACTU Secretary from the get-go. In her first interview on national TV in the role, McManus didn't back down when she was being painted into the corner of 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘸 in relation to supporting a union that received massive fines for industrial actions.
Indeed, the heart of this treatise on fairness is the question, "Is it okay for ordinary Australians to break the law if that law imposes unfair restrictions to their workplace pay and conditions?" The answer from McManus is an unequivocal Yes. That answer was enough to earn the ire of the Australian commentariat and their demand for her to resign not 24 hours into her formal appointment as ACTU Secretary. It is Sally McManus' forthrightness in this regard and her refusal to back down that has earned her a lot of respect in the union movement and from the Australian public.
McManus rightfully points how the rule of law is unequally imposed on workers, while employers usually just receive a relative slap on the wrist. That's why civil disobedience has been so important in the union movement. In fact, the very reason that the right to strike has been eroded by successive Australian governments is 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 withdrawing labour has been such an effective tactic used by the union movement.
It's important to note the context of this publication. After over five years in power the current Liberal/National government is very much on the nose. The Australian Labor Party is poised to sweep the floor with them and should hold a comfortable majority government in the 46th Parliament later this year. Meanwhile, the union movement has been pushing a massive Change the Rules campaign, one of its demands being that Australia needs a pay rise. Sales of On Fairness will go towards to the campaign. I would be surprised if an incoming Labor government bolsters the right-to-strike laws McManus writes of, but if they indeed do 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 to meet at least some of the demands of the campaign - and enforce them - it will be in no small part because of people like McManus and the union movement as a whole.
Whatever happens, we must be ever vigilant, and remain on the front foot...
Indeed, the heart of this treatise on fairness is the question, "Is it okay for ordinary Australians to break the law if that law imposes unfair restrictions to their workplace pay and conditions?" The answer from McManus is an unequivocal Yes. That answer was enough to earn the ire of the Australian commentariat and their demand for her to resign not 24 hours into her formal appointment as ACTU Secretary. It is Sally McManus' forthrightness in this regard and her refusal to back down that has earned her a lot of respect in the union movement and from the Australian public.
McManus rightfully points how the rule of law is unequally imposed on workers, while employers usually just receive a relative slap on the wrist. That's why civil disobedience has been so important in the union movement. In fact, the very reason that the right to strike has been eroded by successive Australian governments is 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 withdrawing labour has been such an effective tactic used by the union movement.
It's important to note the context of this publication. After over five years in power the current Liberal/National government is very much on the nose. The Australian Labor Party is poised to sweep the floor with them and should hold a comfortable majority government in the 46th Parliament later this year. Meanwhile, the union movement has been pushing a massive Change the Rules campaign, one of its demands being that Australia needs a pay rise. Sales of On Fairness will go towards to the campaign. I would be surprised if an incoming Labor government bolsters the right-to-strike laws McManus writes of, but if they indeed do 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 to meet at least some of the demands of the campaign - and enforce them - it will be in no small part because of people like McManus and the union movement as a whole.
Whatever happens, we must be ever vigilant, and remain on the front foot...
February 2, 2021
Especially for those who don't vote Labor- an important perspective to understand.
Worth reading to get the 30 minute version of why unions have a place in modern Australia, but (whether due to brevity or a lack of critical thinking) it does not even question the total purity of unions' actions and/or motives.
In the hagiography of unions' role in Australia's history, of fiercely fighting for equality and prosperity, it fails to address even one potential criticism e.g. the labour movement's role in supporting the White Australia policy, or the criticisms of closed shops, etc. I get it, that's not the purpose of this book, but it takes away from the legitimate points the book does make.
It does make good points about the corporatism that has sadly overtaken the free market discourse in Australian and US politics, and about the problem of stagnant incomes, and of the gains made by the union movement.
I'd genuinely be interested to read McManus expand on the ideas raised here in a lengthier book, but this was just glossing over the surface.
Worth reading to get the 30 minute version of why unions have a place in modern Australia, but (whether due to brevity or a lack of critical thinking) it does not even question the total purity of unions' actions and/or motives.
In the hagiography of unions' role in Australia's history, of fiercely fighting for equality and prosperity, it fails to address even one potential criticism e.g. the labour movement's role in supporting the White Australia policy, or the criticisms of closed shops, etc. I get it, that's not the purpose of this book, but it takes away from the legitimate points the book does make.
It does make good points about the corporatism that has sadly overtaken the free market discourse in Australian and US politics, and about the problem of stagnant incomes, and of the gains made by the union movement.
I'd genuinely be interested to read McManus expand on the ideas raised here in a lengthier book, but this was just glossing over the surface.
April 30, 2021
Reflections and lessons learned:
Aaaah, I wonder if this whole series is Australian! Penny only just dropped!
I have a difficult understanding of unions as whilst I wholly agree with the concept, I feel that they have unfairly controlled UK political arguments and people in a weakened situations. Having said that though I feel lucky to be living in a time when these exist even not for me at this time, but not ruling it out for the future.
A disappointing insight into economics and tax arguments from a wider western world perspective that shouldn’t surprise me but still does. Power in solidarity does leading to employee strength (and I’m singing Billy Bragg songs as I write this!)
Aaaah, I wonder if this whole series is Australian! Penny only just dropped!
I have a difficult understanding of unions as whilst I wholly agree with the concept, I feel that they have unfairly controlled UK political arguments and people in a weakened situations. Having said that though I feel lucky to be living in a time when these exist even not for me at this time, but not ruling it out for the future.
A disappointing insight into economics and tax arguments from a wider western world perspective that shouldn’t surprise me but still does. Power in solidarity does leading to employee strength (and I’m singing Billy Bragg songs as I write this!)
January 7, 2021
In this Little Book on Big Ideas, President of the ACTU, Sally McManus, outlines the case for unionism, citing situations where Australian unions have stood up to exploitation of workers, the continual loss of working conditions and the growing gap in equality. She details the attacks on unions by successive conservative Federal governments, including the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance & Corruption and televised raids by the AFP on union offices, and how big business is not held to the same standards. The author narrates the essay herself in a calm and clear tone.
December 18, 2019
McManus has figured it all: what they want for Chrismas and how the ideal job should be. That is fairness. Unless it is a particular case. Of course, freedom is just a word, people need strong rules, like in any honorable Gulag.
April 2, 2019
Join your union
September 17, 2019
Everybody needs to read this. A very important book.
February 17, 2020
Powerful. A concise summary of neoliberalism and the anti-worker, anti-union world we live in.
May 26, 2020
Short essay. Good read.
September 25, 2020
It is sad that such obvious truths as Sally McManus details here might be taken for some kind of profound or radical set of principles. I envy her optimism.
January 20, 2021
A valuable read for all employees and employers.
Fairness is the underlying principle.
Fairness is the underlying principle.
August 11, 2021
It's easy to forget that pretty much everything great about Australia was spearheaded by unions. Easy short reading to knock off in an evening.
July 21, 2022
Great essay on the union movement in australia by and for poor and working people, by one of the heads of what I think is the biggest union in australia. I hope she turns this essay into a book.
December 2, 2022
Powerful and emotive insight to workers unions and modern day oppression of workers’ rights faced in Australia.
January 23, 2025
Who’s crying? Me, I’m crying - good book!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews