The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has struck up a deal with a South Australian union which, if successful, could begin to dismantle penalty rates in the retail industry.
A new deal which would reduce or abolish penalty rates could mutually benefit employers and the workforce, its pioneers have claimed.
The South Australian branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has made a deal with a union that could lead to the state’s retail workers volunteering to accept lower penalty rates on Sundays and public holidays in exchange for increased base pay.
Up to 40,000 workers at smaller retailers could be covered by the deal – which would also eliminate Saturday and weekday evening penalty rates. In return, employees would be guaranteed annual pay rises and benefits including the right to refuse weekend work.
The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association (SDA) claimed that the proposed agreement it has negotiated with Business SA has the potential to work nationwide, and could reduce employer groups’ issues with pay rates.
“Business SA has actively engaged with the union, rather than just trying to rip workers' entitlements away in the Fair Work Commission”, SDA official Peter Malinauskas told Australian Associated Press. “This deal shows that the legitimate path is to negotiate with workers and unions rather that constantly arguing for cuts to workers’ wages”.
Malinauskas argued against claims made by Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Business SA that the union was accepting that penalty rates posed problems.
The agreement’s architects are hoping that the South Australian model will expand across Australia, easing a major cost burden for retailers who are struggling to compete with online shopping.
“I applaud both parties for recognising that penalty rates are an impediment to retailers opening at certain hours and therefore inhibiting growth in jobs and work hours,” said Kate Carnell, ACCI’s chief executive.
Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), said that he is hoping the deal will strengthen the ARA’s Fair Work Commission case for reduced Sunday penalty rates across Australia.
“We're seeing that unions really do now understand that Sunday penalty rates at 100% are unsustainable and it's a decision that will help the industry,” he said. “It's a good start, in the right direction.”
However, the Business Council of Australia has expressed scepticism over the deal.
“It looks like a commonsense deal.” BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott told ABC Radio. “But ... we can't have the economy held hostage to ad hoc deals. We need a lot more predictability, a lot more simplification and this can't be solved on a deal by deal basis.”
The ACTU is expected to continue campaigning for penalty rates to remain in place, arguing that workers’ end of the deal rewards them with “a big fat nothing”.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that he will not support any deal that cuts the wages and benefits of workers.
The South Australian branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has made a deal with a union that could lead to the state’s retail workers volunteering to accept lower penalty rates on Sundays and public holidays in exchange for increased base pay.
Up to 40,000 workers at smaller retailers could be covered by the deal – which would also eliminate Saturday and weekday evening penalty rates. In return, employees would be guaranteed annual pay rises and benefits including the right to refuse weekend work.
The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association (SDA) claimed that the proposed agreement it has negotiated with Business SA has the potential to work nationwide, and could reduce employer groups’ issues with pay rates.
“Business SA has actively engaged with the union, rather than just trying to rip workers' entitlements away in the Fair Work Commission”, SDA official Peter Malinauskas told Australian Associated Press. “This deal shows that the legitimate path is to negotiate with workers and unions rather that constantly arguing for cuts to workers’ wages”.
Malinauskas argued against claims made by Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Business SA that the union was accepting that penalty rates posed problems.
The agreement’s architects are hoping that the South Australian model will expand across Australia, easing a major cost burden for retailers who are struggling to compete with online shopping.
“I applaud both parties for recognising that penalty rates are an impediment to retailers opening at certain hours and therefore inhibiting growth in jobs and work hours,” said Kate Carnell, ACCI’s chief executive.
Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), said that he is hoping the deal will strengthen the ARA’s Fair Work Commission case for reduced Sunday penalty rates across Australia.
“We're seeing that unions really do now understand that Sunday penalty rates at 100% are unsustainable and it's a decision that will help the industry,” he said. “It's a good start, in the right direction.”
However, the Business Council of Australia has expressed scepticism over the deal.
“It looks like a commonsense deal.” BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott told ABC Radio. “But ... we can't have the economy held hostage to ad hoc deals. We need a lot more predictability, a lot more simplification and this can't be solved on a deal by deal basis.”
The ACTU is expected to continue campaigning for penalty rates to remain in place, arguing that workers’ end of the deal rewards them with “a big fat nothing”.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that he will not support any deal that cuts the wages and benefits of workers.
