24 July, 2014 | Media Release North Queensland Cowboys star Brent Tate has thrown his support behind a new national campaign to save weekend rates.

The Cowboys centre helped launch the ‘Save our Weekend’ campaign with ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver in Townsville today.

“Nurses, police, ambos, firefighters, miners, retail and hospitality workers are among the hardworking Australians who sacrifice their weekends away from family and friends,” said Mr Oliver.

“They work nights and other unsociable hours and should be paid for that – but the Abbott Government is working hand in glove with business groups to cut penalty rates and lower take home pays.”

Facts:

• There is legislation before the Parliament to strip current protections around individual flexibility; agreements (IFAs) and make it easier for employers to force workers to give up penalty rates
• The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced in June it is launching a national campaign to cut Sunday penalty rates in a number of sectors;
• The Government has ordered a Productivity Commission inquiry into workplace laws that will allow employers to intensify their attack on penalty rates.




Mr Oliver urged Townsville residents to get behind the Save our Weekend campaign.

“Over the next four weeks, weekend workers including nurses, paramedics and fire fighters are going to be door knocking homes, holding rallies and community events to encourage people to support the campaign and protect the way of life unions have fought so hard for all Australians to enjoy,” said Mr Oliver.

A new national survey carried out for the campaign shows the majority of Australians support weekend penalty rates.*

• 80% of people agree that people who work unsociable hours should receive a higher rate of pay.
• 69% of people are concerned the government will abolish penalty rates
• 78% of casual/part time workers are concerned the government will abolish penalty rates
• 62% of people believe penalty rates are a crucial part of people’s pay and conditions

People can show their support for weekend rates by signing an online petition at: www.australianunions.org.au/weekend_rates

The Save Our Weekends campaign will be rolled out in regional centres around the country.

As my mum used to say, " You don't need brains to play football."

Not if you work those times BY CHOICE...

Its not as simple as that.  First of all if people work those hours, they should get penalty rates.  Also remember the unions fought so that people could get penalty rates.      

I always wonder when they cut penalty rates, are the savings passed on to the consumer, or does the business owner pocket the difference.

What a load of tripe, trying to cut penalty rates under the pre-text of flexibility , didn't those LNP retards learn the first time after being ejected from office like a polaris missile .

You hear the same old argument from business owners, if I had lower wages I could employ more people, if the employee has lower wages there is less disposable income to spend to support these businesses, the happy median has been met already.

Just another LNP policy to strip away wages and conditions from the lower end of socio economic from the Liars N Parasites party.

Ok Gina

Its time wrote on Jul 26^th, 2014 at 8:34am:


since it has never happened, how would you know???

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 26^th, 2014 at 8:49am:


Were you asleep through "Work Choices"?