The fight to protect penalty rates is far from over, as the SDA steps up the campaign in local communities across the country.
On 23 February 2017, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down a decision to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for retail, fast food, pharmacy and hospitality workers covered by Awards.
A commencement date for these cuts is yet to be determined, and the SDA is currently working hard to stop them from coming into effect.
SDA National Secretary Gerard Dwyer says Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has the power to stop penalty rate cuts, and the Union will continue to put pressure on him to step up and protect the wages of many thousands of workers.
“Hard working retail and fast food employees stand to lose between $2,000 and $6,000 every year due to the penalty rate cuts which are fully supported by the Turnbull Government.
“Whether it’s a direct cut in take-home pay or a reduction in the conditions that underpin major EBAs, it represents a pay cut that retail and fast food workers can’t afford and don’t deserve.
“The Turnbull Government has failed to stand up for working families at every opportunity.
“While they continue to turn their backs on Australian workers who are already struggling with record low wages growth; the SDA will continue to defend fair penalty rates,” said Gerard.
The SDA ran a massive advertising blitz throughout May to raise awareness of this critical issue. The blitz targeted several geographic areas including Gladstone (QLD), NSW Central Coast, NSW South Coast, Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs (VIC) and Adelaide (SA).
The blitz included radio, digital and social media ads, along with mobile and static billboards.
There was no stone left unturned as we put penalty rates front and centre in the newspapers, on the airwaves, out in the community, in your Facebook feed and on the shop floor.
We need the community to continue to stand with us on this important issue.
You can help by joining the campaign at www.protectpenaltyrates.org.au.
SDA Appeals Penalty Rates Decision in Court
The Commission’s decision to cut penalty rates is unfair. It will devastate thousands of retail and fast food workers across the country.
Penalty rates are not a luxury — they help to put food on the table and petrol in the car and they help you save for the future or for study.
It’s not just retail, fast food and pharmacy workers covered by Awards who will be impacted by these cuts – eventually, it will reduce the fair wages SDA members have bargained for over many years in Agreements too.
That’s why the SDA is seeking to appeal the decision through a Judicial Review in the Federal Court.
It is the SDA’s firm position to stop these cuts and protect your take-home pay.
United Voice, the union for hospitality workers, is also appealing the decision.
We will continue to update members as the Judicial Review progresses.
This article was originally published in The Shop Assistant Journal - Winter 2017: Vol 81, Iss 2.