Pumpernickel politicsNot many people in Australia may be aware that the Schröder Government – and the Social Democrat/Greens coalition – is moving to raise Germany’s working week from 38 to 42 hours, without compensation for the extra time worked. The conservative opposition will support this remarkable proposal. The unions are talking of unleashing big mayhem: but German employer spokesmen are saying, “Better a little trouble now than much more later”.They cite high, inflexible wages and c…