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Hard Labour: wage theft in the age of inequality
A startling investigation of how some of Australia’s best-known companies have abused their power to systematically underpay their workers in recent years.
Whether it’s at McDonald’s, Coles, 7-Eleven, Woolworths, the major banks, high-end restaurants, or on farms, wage theft has become endemic. Billions of dollars have been unlawfully taken from workers at countless businesses, large and small.
Hard Labour is an examination of why this has occurred and what it says about inequality and power in twenty-first century Australia. It tells the stories of individual workers, temporary migrants, and those without influence and connections. It also describes how many businesses — whether owned by private equity or wealthy families, or operating through tax havens or on the stock exchange — have structured themselves to avoid paying minimum wages.
Drawing on years of extensive research, economic data, and hundreds of interviews, Ben Schneiders puts the issue of wage theft in a broader context to describe how the loss of worker power in Australia has led to rising inequality and what this means for our democracy. Hard Labour examines some of the shifts of power in Australian history between capital and labour — from the living-wage Harvester decision of 1907 to the Accord of the 1980s, the rise of neoliberalism, and the continuing decline of the union movement.
Hard Labour shows the scale of the wage-theft problem, and what needs to be done to change what is, in effect, a massive rip-off of ordinary workers.
Whether it’s at McDonald’s, Coles, 7-Eleven, Woolworths, the major banks, high-end restaurants, or on farms, wage theft has become endemic. Billions of dollars have been unlawfully taken from workers at countless businesses, large and small.
Hard Labour is an examination of why this has occurred and what it says about inequality and power in twenty-first century Australia. It tells the stories of individual workers, temporary migrants, and those without influence and connections. It also describes how many businesses — whether owned by private equity or wealthy families, or operating through tax havens or on the stock exchange — have structured themselves to avoid paying minimum wages.
Drawing on years of extensive research, economic data, and hundreds of interviews, Ben Schneiders puts the issue of wage theft in a broader context to describe how the loss of worker power in Australia has led to rising inequality and what this means for our democracy. Hard Labour examines some of the shifts of power in Australian history between capital and labour — from the living-wage Harvester decision of 1907 to the Accord of the 1980s, the rise of neoliberalism, and the continuing decline of the union movement.
Hard Labour shows the scale of the wage-theft problem, and what needs to be done to change what is, in effect, a massive rip-off of ordinary workers.
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 26, 2022
Having worked in almost all of the industries included in the book and done some time in union activism this book said much that rang true of my experience and provided deeper insights. It would be an excellent primer as well for people less familiar with wage theft in the Australian context
March 26, 2023
We here in Australia like to think that class doesn’t exist and that a fair go is inherent in all industries.
That is absolute cobblers.
Books that resonate with lived experiences are the ones that stay with you. Hard Labour did this with me.
In particular, tales of RTOs and training colleges with ghost students from economically disadvantaged countries and the malfeasance and expedience of the SDA in selling out their young and inexperienced members are things I’ve witnessed with my own two eyes.
I don’t necessarily separate people into villains and heroes though there are people who fit the latter description than the former. The system is absolutely rotten and needs a massive overhaul. Unfortunately, our political class live as though it’s still the 1980’s, union density is high and awards honoured. Morrison’s catch cry of ‘if you have a go, you’ll get a go’ is one of the sickest jokes played on an electorate all too keen to swallow it.
I could not recommend this book more highly because of its surgical precision of exploring the HR Nicholls, John Howard and New Right version of Australia where the social contract was dispensed of a long time ago.
That is absolute cobblers.
Books that resonate with lived experiences are the ones that stay with you. Hard Labour did this with me.
In particular, tales of RTOs and training colleges with ghost students from economically disadvantaged countries and the malfeasance and expedience of the SDA in selling out their young and inexperienced members are things I’ve witnessed with my own two eyes.
I don’t necessarily separate people into villains and heroes though there are people who fit the latter description than the former. The system is absolutely rotten and needs a massive overhaul. Unfortunately, our political class live as though it’s still the 1980’s, union density is high and awards honoured. Morrison’s catch cry of ‘if you have a go, you’ll get a go’ is one of the sickest jokes played on an electorate all too keen to swallow it.
I could not recommend this book more highly because of its surgical precision of exploring the HR Nicholls, John Howard and New Right version of Australia where the social contract was dispensed of a long time ago.
August 17, 2023
This is very enlightening as to the origin of wage theft, how employers have gotten away with it, the involvement of the union movement and government. As well as large employers being owned by large fund managers, all about profit.
It's eye opening, and scary. Whilst some things have changed, there continue to be instances of wage theft - including lack of superannuation payments.
It is a current read, up to 2022, and believe it should be kept up to date, as an ongoing investigation. Make people - the 'little people' aware.
It does go on a little at the end, but overall I really enjoyed it.
It's eye opening, and scary. Whilst some things have changed, there continue to be instances of wage theft - including lack of superannuation payments.
It is a current read, up to 2022, and believe it should be kept up to date, as an ongoing investigation. Make people - the 'little people' aware.
It does go on a little at the end, but overall I really enjoyed it.
November 7, 2022
Australia is becoming more unequal. Companies' share of GP has been increasing since the 1980s while the employees' share had been decreasing. Partly because of the decline in the power of the unions and partly because of a determined effort by the Liberal National coalition to favour the rights of employers over employees.
The focus of the inequality in this book has been on wage theft, particularly foreign workers on s 457 visas working in restaurants and picking fruit on farms. The conditions they are forced to work under are appalling.
The focus of the inequality in this book has been on wage theft, particularly foreign workers on s 457 visas working in restaurants and picking fruit on farms. The conditions they are forced to work under are appalling.
July 14, 2023
I liked this book. Schneiders describes instances of wage theft and employee maltreatment in industries including hospitality and farm work. At times it felt a touch repetitive, but I have to commend the author on his dedication to worker justice and on the thoroughness of his research. Some informative bits about Australian labour and union history as well.
November 11, 2022
If you want to want understand wage theft, inequality, how the industrial relations system operates in Australia in the 21st century and what Thomas Piketty is on about, read this book.
January 3, 2023
Worth a read, basically a summary of Fairfax wage theft reporting in recent years. Good on why the SDA suck, bad on thoughts for what to do about it (start more coops apparently).
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews