The Four Corners program on live exports of cattle from Australia to Indonesia caused much scandal, because of the extremely cruel treatment of the animals. After a limited ban in reaction to protests, the Australian government is attempting to defend and legitimise the live export trade. What needs to be asked however is why the live exports trade has been developed by the Australian cattle industry. The reason is very simple. Australian meat workers have a historically high level of union coverage. This high unionisation provides meat workers with relatively high wages, improved safety conditions and healthier workplaces in what is an extremely dangerous industry. The union presence and standards also translate into a more humane method of handling and killing the animal. The Australian government tried to smash the Meat Workers Union in 1985 with the Mudginberri dispute but failed. Since then the meat industry owners have tried to avoid union wages and union-imposed standards by simply exporting live cattle to countries where union organisation is minimal, wages are low, health and safety conditions for workers are terrible, health checks are inadequate and standards against animal cruelty are just forgotten. More on live exports on the AMIEU website.
The Four Corners program on live exports of cattle from Australia to Indonesia caused much scandal, because of the extremely cruel treatment of the animals. After a limited ban in reaction to protests, the Australian government is attempting to defend and legitimise the live export trade. What needs to be asked however is why the live exports trade has been developed by the Australian cattle industry. The reason is very simple. Australian meat workers have a historically high level of union coverage. This high unionisation provides meat workers with relatively high wages, improved safety conditions and healthier workplaces in what is an extremely dangerous industry. The union presence and standards also translate into a more humane method of handling and killing the animal. The Australian government tried to smash the Meat Workers Union in 1985 with the Mudginberri dispute but failed. Since then the meat industry owners have tried to avoid union wages and union-imposed standards by simply exporting live cattle to countries where union organisation is minimal, wages are low, health and safety conditions for workers are terrible, health checks are inadequate and standards against animal cruelty are just forgotten. More on live exports on the AMIEU website.
