A UNION leader says retail and fast food workers’ pay could be cut by more than $2000 a year through lost Sunday penalty rates.
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The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association has called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to intervene over Thursday’s Fair Work Commission decision to reduce Sunday rates.
SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said economic analysis showed the change would not create extra jobs or boost small business.
“What it will do is cut the already low pay of hundreds of thousands of workers,” he said.
“An extensive McKell Report estimates that the cuts to penalty rates in the retail and fast food sectors would result in workers across Australia losing between $370 million and $1.55 billion each year.
“Today’s ruling has effectively created a two-tier working system, where retail and fast food workers are less important than other workers.”
Mr Dwyer said Mr Turnbull must act before the changes took effect in July.
“The SDA will be reviewing this damaging decision and we’re calling on Malcolm Turnbull to stand up for our nation’s retail and fast food workers by intervening immediately to protect take-home pay and then reviewing the laws that have led to this decision,” he said.
