Over the past few days big business has mobilised to an extraordinary extent to rubbish Labor's IR policy. John Howard gave Dracula the keys to the blood bank, and surprise surprise, Dracula doesn’t like it when they could be taken away.

Let's take a moment to go through the characters who are jumping up to protest against the restoration of fairness and balance in the workplace.

First, there is the Business Council of Australia, the champion of AWA individual contracts. BCA President Michael Chaney is renowned for having once said that fairness has no role in IR policy. He, of course, is not feeling the pinch of "WorkChoices," having earned more than $6 million dollars a year since 1998. That's $115,000 a week.

Another vocal critic is Peter Hendy from the ACCI. Mr Hendy was a senior adviser to former Liberal IR minister Peter Reith, so WorkChoices is his baby. He has vowed to throw millions of dollars into an advertising campaign supporting his friend and confidante John Howard.

Then there is BHP Billiton boss Chip Goodyear, who has stated that Labor’s IR policy is a step backwards for business. He earns more than $6.5 million a year. Retiring Rio Tinto boss Leigh Clifford, who has pocketed between 4 and $6 million a year for the past decade, also put in his two cents.

Tell big business to come off it. Fairness and rights at work must play a part in IR policy. Sign the petition now.
With newspapers and current affairs shows filled with the loud chorus of big business outrage, it is easy to lose sight of decent businesses who treat their staff with respect and wouldn't dream of using John Howard’s laws to disadvantage staff.

It is also easy to lose of sight of people like Nancy, in Noble Park Victoria, who lost her job when her company was sold to a new firm. She and her fellow Redwin workers were told that their collective agreement was no longer valid.

A few were offered AWA individual agreements that had no guaranteed wage rise for the five year life of the contract. No overtime. No penalty rates. Working hours could be changed at the whim of the company. With many workers on as little as $15 an hour, any change in their pay and conditions has a huge impact. They were told, "take it or leave it."

Nancy, 8 months pregnant, is now out of a job.

Unlike Nancy, CEOs like Michael Chaney, Peter Hendy, Chip Goodyear and the like have a great deal of clout. Their money buys them air time in the media, and face time with politicians.

But the beauty of the Australian political system is that at the end of the day, Michael Chaney and Peter Hendy each get one vote. Just like you.

Six months out from the election the stakes have never been higher.