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ACTU pushes for part-time retail hours
Businesses and unions have struck a deal to increase the hours for part-time employees, which they state will increase flexibility for businesses and certainty for workers.
ACTU pushes for part-time retail hours
Businesses and unions have struck a deal to increase the hours for part-time employees, which they state will increase flexibility for businesses and certainty for workers.
The changes to the Retail Award will impact 1.2 million workers if the Fair Work Commission approves the deal between retail union SDA and Master Grocers Australia.
The improvements are supported by the ACTU and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), believing it provides a decent and fair response to the challenges faced by the retail sector in the pandemic.
ACTU secretary Sally McManus said underemployment is a major problem in our economy, with the risk of the recovery in hard-hit sectors becoming entirely “casualised” with no opportunities for permanent jobs or permanent rights.
“Agreements like this are possible when the needs of ordinary people are put ahead of ideology,” she said.
“There are too many big business lobby fanatics who just want more one-way flexibility by removing protections for workers. There are better ways to approach problems where workers rights can be protected and improved while also addressing the particular concerns and circumstances of hard-hit small businesses. It takes good will, creativity and a willingness to genuinely listen to each other.”
Ms McManus has also hit out at the Morrison government’s omnibus bill, claiming it will depress wages growth and hurt the overall economy.
“Getting money into the hands of working people and giving them the security to spend is the only way out of the pandemic recession. The government’s Omnibus Bill will hurt working people and the economic recovery. Flexibility and fairness can only be achieved by working together, the Omnibus Bill imposes solutions that undermine fairness,” she continued.
COSBOA CEO Peter Strong agreed, opining that small businesses need strong consumer confidence and to be able to adapt to changing conditions.
“Small businesses want to invest in their employees, giving more hours in a fair and planned way to existing part-time workers. This agreement does this by respecting employees’ rights to certainty and also giving flexibility to small businesses. Unlike other solutions, this agreement provides enforceable rights for business and workers,” he concluded.
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