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| Union wages war on school kids |
   
| Image: Teenjobs.com.au - specialist website for matching job seeking youth with part time employment. |
Posted Date: 01/02/2012
By Inside Retail
Retailers head for the Federal Court today to stifle yet another attempt by the radical Shop Assistants Union to prevent schoolchildren having the right to work after school.
Despite being thrown out by Fair Work Australia - and again in a full bench review - the union appears unwavering in its war on children.
Today the National Retail Association will “staunchly defend” shorter minimum work shifts for young employees in the Federal Court in Melbourne. Fair Work Australia last year varied the General Retail Industry Award to allow 1.5 hour shifts exclusively for secondary students, in recognition of the unique role of the retail sector in providing employment to students.
The new shift law recognises the time span between the end of the school day and retail stores’ closing times.
The NRA has been prosecuting the shorter hours application since 2010 and the union’s relentless crusade has seen the NRA resource three appeal processes against union's repeated attempts to outlaw shorter shifts.
Executive director Gary Black said the case would play a significant role in how the retail sector performed in 2012, after difficult conditions in recent years.
“The decision previously reached by Fair Work Australia was in the best interests of employees, employers and the general public,” Black said.
“A successful appeal against the ruling to allow minimum 90-minute shifts for young workers will see the end of after school jobs and hurt retailers who will be forced to employ older workers who are available for longer shifts that start before school gets out.”
The ruling the NRA is seeking to uphold includes conditions on who is eligible to work for the minimum shift, effectively protecting their rights and minimising the potential for exploitation of the Australian workforce.
Under the proposed change to the General Retail Industry Award, the FWA stated that the employee must be a full time high-school student, the work can only occur between 3.00pm and 6.30pm on a normal school day and the employee and their guardian must consent to the shorter period of work.
Additionally, the minimum shift may only be rostered when the employer is unable to offer a longer shift due to limited opening hours or because the employee is unavailable.
“If the union is successful in preventing minimum 1.5 hour shifts, it will rob school kids of a chance to participate in the workforce and negatively affect retailers such as newsagents and grocers who are only open until early evening.
“Overturning FWA’s decision will inevitably result in young and vulnerable staff being laid off and denied work, particularly in regional areas where low-margin retail businesses simply cannot afford to pay for three hours’ work when only one and a half hours is required,” he said.
“One in every two young Australians relies on retail for an income. The sector shoulders the burden of transitioning the nation’s young from school to work, in delivering critical employability skills, and helping develop important life and social skills.” |
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by Brad Coates
Whatever....I terminated all of our after school kids and removed the service they offered to the public. I figure it's both their loss. They can reap what their union has sowed....unemployment! I now tell our customers to call the Shop Assistant's Union and ask if THEY want to handle deliveries or service work! ;-) If it gets worse I'll simply sack more staff. They COULD, of course, make a distinction between small business and bigger players.........
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by MICHAEL
Everyone except for Stephen Mason is right. Blame the Labour Government for what the unions are doing now. "One in every two young Australians relies on retail for an income". So why oh why is this STUPID union trying to deny young Australians work!
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by JohnB
Absolutely none, Alan! This union is run by ultra left wing, greedy imbeciles who don't give a rat's ear lobe about the financial viability of the companies providing jobs for their members. And of course, with other unions, they totally control the Federal Government.. Welcome to the land of the free - not.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by alans
once again the union's objective is to ensure that only unionists get to keep their positions at the expense of others.how many full time adult employees will be affected by a school student working 1.5 hours after school
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by Nancy Georges
This story really makes me cranky! NRA 'fighting' changes that will allow retailers to adapt to the new market & stay afloat in this climate. The Unions in Australia need to take a long hard look at themselves! Why don't they recognise that we are well and truly out of the industrial revolution & conditions change??? We don't manufacture in this country thanks to them pricing the Australian labour force out of contention...... This makes sense & keeps people in business and employing Australians!
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by Peter
For heavens sake,at a time when retail companies are collapsing, sales being impacted by various influences, the SDA still want to carry on with this issue!The protection clauses are there to stop "exploitation". I can't believe that the majority of their members would want their fees ,and their unions energy, focussed on this "fight".
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 by Stephen Mason
With the protections listed above in place this seems like a good move by the NRA, I would hate to see big chains being able to take advantage of 1.5 hour shifts if any of the conditions were relaxed.
In my business I would have an opportunity for a student at 1.5-2 hours per day a few days a week, and this opportunity would not otherwise go to an adult worker.
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