Iron Bar,
If you are not selling your labour then what exactly are you doing?
Who says that being competitive is a "race to the bottom". One of those absurd phrases that catches on in mindless bar chatter and becomes cool to quote.
My underlining.
Well said AnQrKa
It's called "price discovery" and "the market." My heart is sincerely with QF employees, however... we may not like it, and it might not be "fair," but if your skill set will only bring you a certain remuneration when allowed to compete then so be it. Be pragmatic and realistic, it will bring peace to you all.
Setting up protected rent-seeking workshops like Australia is so good at is what stifles innovation and competition and... ultimately hurts the workers that have gotten used to the sweet conditions that are now disappearing. The Age of Entitlement is over in more ways than one.