HOSPITALITY WORKERS WARN AGAINST AWARD CHANGES
June 30, 2021 United Workers Union.
The union representing hospitality workers has urged the Fair Work Commission to exercise caution when considering proposed changes to the Restaurant Industry Award.

Amidst cries from hospitality employers who say they’re struggling to find staff, the United Workers Union (UWU) is warning that any cuts to take home pay would be an act of self-harm to the industry.

In a submission to the Fair Work Commission lodged today, UWU has made clear that no worker should be left worse-off, and that, in the pursuit of fairness, workers must be properly consulted on changes before and after they are implemented.

The submission was made in response to a process initiated by former Attorney General Christian Porter to modify some awards.

In response, UWU members met throughout the process as the proposals took shape, and after the commission expressed its “provisional support” for the changes.

UWU members have suggested that if FWC decides to bring in these changes, a range of additional safeguards must be adopted including:

A limited 12 month trial
A review starting 9 months after commencement
A monitoring committee made up of Union and industry representatives
Enhanced powers for FWC to resolve disputes
UWU Director Ben Redford said that the union had consistently opposed any measure which would mean workers covered by the award would suffer detriment or be worse off than they are under the current provisions and would continue to do so.

“Reductions in take home pay would not assist this industry to continue to recover from the economic effect of the pandemic – in fact, any such measure would be counter-productive, and contribute to the specific challenge facing the industry at present – attracting and retaining staff,” Redford said.

“The hospitality industry is screaming for workers right now. We need to improve the quality and security of hospitality jobs, not reduce them.”

“Any changes should also be closely monitored over a 12 month period and workers should be included in this review process through a committee.”

UWU’s submission was accompanied by a report prepared by Associate Professor Angela Knox from University of Sydney.

In her report, Associate Professor Angela Knox concludes that negative changes to hospitality jobs would worsen the current issues of recruitment and retention.

“Further degradation of wages and/or career progression opportunities is likely to heighten recruitment and retention problems and exacerbate labour shortages, proving counterproductive for hospitality businesses,” the report states.

“Research evidence indicates that a reduction in penalty rates, including via ‘loaded rates’, is likely to compound the industry’s poor-quality jobs by reducing wages among some of the countries lowest paid workers.”

Unfortunately the inappropriate lockdowns are going to demolish a lot of work for hospitality workers

Some of our western Australian forum posters seem delighted that for example
The West coast Eagles are forced to play games in front of empty stadiums

The loss of income to just this one football club
This year has been over 9 million dollars
A lot of that would have come through hospitality provided at games

These workers are being sacrificed
So that various cowardly Australians can enjoy their lockdowns

When you call a snap lock down
Do you think that all those restaurants and hotels just put the oysters back in the fridge for another week
They are of course put into the rubbish bin
And our long-suffering hospitality workers get to stay at home and eat a bowl of dirt
Whilst our entitled public servants welfare recipients and other no hopers
Stay at home on the couch watching Netflix
And ordering food from dominos and pizza hut

My my

The interests of the big corporations are served
And the individual hospitality worker is destroyed

aquascoot wrote on Jul 1^st, 2021 at 6:54am:

Do you think that all those restaurants and hotels just put the oysters back in the fridge for another week They are of course put into the rubbish bin

Dumpster-divers rejoice!
For surely ye are blessed unto the plague.
Let, therefore ye blessed, go out into the world, with bin chickens and rats,
And praise Xi-hovah,
For verily he is the Lord of the Crud.

Whenever you hear a Liberal government discussing reform they are likely discussing something that should put them all in reform school....... instead, for that kind, it's riches for life...

Been a long time since we've heard that old mantra - what's good for business is good for everyone... still draws a chuckle... reminds me of 'without investors there'd be no property market and no rentals available' - that's because them houses would all be owned by the peasantry getting above themselves... like they once did.... not one brass razoo of change to the actual availability of properties...just the style of person living in them and far lower prices... and the effects on inflation and the modern lifestyle would be something to see.....

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