Sometimes reality hits you quickly.  On other days, it takes time to sink in.

Think of this point when you read the following quote:

• "It is also unacceptable for Julia Gillard to threaten Telstra and demand that the company give in to demands from the Union bosses, including attempts to negotiate illegal side agreements."

First, Telstra's been described elsewhere as a "200 pound gorilla" - it takes on governments, regulators and even its' own shareholders.

Ask yourself - who seriously believes the dramatic claim that Telstra's been threatened by a modest call to work with employees and their Unions?

There are few things Telstra takes serious note of - senior management have become almost a law unto themselves.

Secondly, the "illegal side agreements" are considered illegal because the former Government used WorkChoices to bend to breaking point Australia's approach to industrial relations.

The last government classed as "illegal" or "prohibited" any attempt by ordinary workers to ask for protection from things such as contracting out or individual contracts.

Regardless of your politics, you would think that now is the time for politicians to realise: the bargaining table has tilted too far towards employers and it's time for balance.

That's what voters realised when they cast their votes at the last election.

So it's time for Telstra to realise that.

And it is also something that should be realised by the owner of the quote that triggered this article: Julie Bishop - the Opposition's Shadow IR Minister.

Perhaps she should do what Julia Gillard did on yesterday's ABC TV Insiders program - and that is, stand up for ordinary working Australians as they take a stand against a "200 pound gorilla" that wants to cut wages, conditions - and employees' democratic right to be represented by a Union at wage talks.

The full article, from the Australian, can be found here.