Australian Workplace Agreements
I was watching an SBS program last night, which was a forum about Work Place Agreements introduced by the Howard Government. It sickened me to see some business representatives standing on thier ivory towers sprooking propaganda on how good the Australian work force has it now.
One representative of the Chamber of Commerce said “most workers now have more money in their pay packets, since the introduction of a new work place system last year”. Nearly every academic in the forum laughed and said “lies! the average hourly income has actually come down by 3 to 4%”. And most of these academics had studies and surveys commissioned by the Government to back them up.
Now, I am a business owner and I wouldn’t for a second put any of my employees and a AWPA which took all their entitlements away. Wages and conditions have been fought hard for by my father and his work mates. Going months at a time striking to get a fair days pay. My people can expect me to think of them first when making a profit. But the big end of town does not have those sorts of thoughts.
Large franchises employing low skill and juniors will basically pay waht they want. Allow Supervisors to Intimidate staff knowing that these vulnerable people have nowere to go and are in a desperate situation. My daaghter applied for a shop assistant job at a local hairdresser. When she applied she was told to get the job she had to agree to their AWPA. She was fine about that, but when she said no problem but can I get my Dad to go through it with me, she was told that she either signed it there and then or no job.
Well, she didn’t sign the agreement, but she took off with it to let me have a look at it. Here are some of the conditions.
1. She must agree to work at $6.90 per hour. She is 18 years old.
2. She must be available for work everyday from 8am to 5pm even if she isnt rostered on, with no penalties.
3. She must work through breaks if asked to at the normal hourly rate.
4. Does not get overtime penalties.
5. Does not get sick leave entitlements.
6. No annual leave.
7. All training must be done in her time and paid by herself.
8. This one is the one I got the most from. Uniforms, safety clothing and eye protection is supplied but is deducted from her first pay.
The fact Mr Howard is that some business owners like me care about the people who help me make my living, most of my business friends think the people who work for them are cattle and should only be paid what they say they are worth. And they dont care that their workers are doing unpaid overtimetime, as long as it dosnt effect their golf game.
I can’t wait for labour to get in. I want people to feel secure in their jobs, but most of all I want them to get what they deserve and spend quality with their families and freinds.
