Just Employment
In October 2004, a 16 year old lost three fingertips after they were crushed in a press at Conditionaire International, based in Miranda, south Sydney. The NSW Industrial Relations Commission found that the company had provided inadequate supervision and training to the 16 year old who had been working at the company for just four months.
(WorkCover NSW, 2006, WorkCover News: The Workplace safety and injury magazine)
Have you ever got the feeling that you have been treated unfairly at work? Have you ever treated someone else badly at work? Work is an important part of life. At work we make choices. These decisions are made within an area that is subject to law and Government policy. Recently in Australia this bigger picture of work and how it should be regulated (or deregulated) has been vigorously debated. What laws should be in place to help us have better relations with each other at work?
Christians have not stood by and watched idly when this debate has occurred. So what do Christians think about work?
The Christian perspective on work
The Judeo-Christian perspective on humanity is that we are all purposely created in the image and likeness of God. All human life is of value and should be treated with the respect and dignity God intended us to have.
[Read more on Christians and work]
JustAct is highlighting two key issues relating to justice and employment. Some of these issues rarely get a public airing, so it is time to take some action.
Young Workers
The world of work brings with it responsibility and challenge. Young workers (15-17 years olds) often endure work in unsafe conditions and do not enjoy pay and working conditions that many other sections of the workforce take for granted. When young people are experiencing the formal workplace for the first time - this is a formative experience. Unstable and unrewarding work for young people can result in entrenching a ‘dog eat dog’ atmosphere that erodes commitment to building a compassionate and strong community. Young people deserve to have safe, stable and rewarding work environments – this benefits the good of all.
Homeworkers
Have you ever wondered why that pair of jeans ‘made in China’ is so cheap? Many homeworkers and workers in what are known as ‘sweat shops’ throughout the world remain an underclass which can provide a pool of cheap and submissive workers in both industrialised and developing countries. Christian communities (and others) of all persuasions have played a part in highlighting this issue. You can play a part in striving for justice for home workers here and overseas by calling for more countries, including Australia, to support an international agreement to protect these most vulnerable workers.
REMINDER: FairWear Christmas carols at RICH outlet
Venue: 375 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 12:30pm
When: THIS Friday 19th December
We are gearing up for our action on Friday, outside the RICH outlet, 375 Brunswick St, (near the corner with Rose St).
The action will start at 12:30pm, this Friday 19th December.
Bring your best singing voices, and join FairWear in delivering a lump of coal to this very naughty clothing company, and singing our unique brand of Christmas carols, in honour of sweatshop workers and outworkers.
See you there!
Liz Thompson
FairWear Victoria Campaign Co-ordinator
Level 3, 130 Lt Collins St, Melbourne
Tues-Thurs
Ph:(03) 9251 5270
F:(03) 9251 5241
mob: 0421 979 694
www.fairwear.org.au
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Grassroots MySpace/Facebook campaign for fair fashion (from NikeWatch)
Being fifteen I am at the target age of many fashion labels, so to get my concern through I started writing letters to some of the major labels I believed were responsible, and the results were interesting. Most of the companies were very vague and evasive, not answering. I have decided to create this group so that people can get together and discuss their opinions and solutions to the ethical clothes problem.” Shona Forsyth has set up a similar campaign on Facebook. So far the Myspace site has 109 members and there are 310 members on the Facebook site.
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Big fines for bosses who pay ‘in-kind’
Source: Unite - call them on 03 9328 1555
New laws that expose bosses to big fines if they pay workers’ wages ‘in-kind’ or make unauthorised deductions from their pay packets have taken effect in Victoria this week.
The Victorian Workers’ Wages Protection Act requires employees’ wages to be paid in money. This bans all in-kind payments such as paying retail employees with discounted clothes or free DVD hire!
Employers must obtain the written authorisation of the employee, or their parent or guardian if they are under 18, before making any deduction. Under no circumstances can the boss deduct more than the amount specified in the authorisation.
An authorisation is of no effect if it is obtained by coercion (ie bullying) or if it delivers a financial benefit to the employer. A deduction can be deemed unreasonable if it results in the employee being paid less than the minimum wage.
It can also be deemed unreasonable if it is intended to make up for the cost of replacing clothing, equipment or other property lost or destroyed by the worker.
An employer that breaches the Act can be ordered to pay a penalty of up to $10,000 and to reimburse the employee. A court can order all or part of the penalty be paid to a union or other organisation.
This new legislation comes after some petrol station operators (including 7-Eleven) had been deducting money from employees’ pay packets when customers drove off without paying for fuel. Another high profile example was the case where UNITE exposed Video Dogs for paying workers in DVD hire.
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Young Unionist Network (YUN) – Union Summer
The YUN is inviting young workers to apply for their Union Summer three week internship program. This program aims to bring unions together with young workers, students and activists and give them the opportunity to get active in organising campaigns.
Union Summer runs from January 27th - February 13th. The training will cover basic organising skills and concepts, campaigning, the history of unions, the role of unions in the workplace, Industrial Relations and Occupational health and safety.
There will also be a component of training time that is used for interns to work on problem solving and development of a small group project. You get a basic stipend [around $250 a week] for your efforts and four and a half days of your time will be spent at the historic Trades Hall.
Applications close on December 15 so contact Danielle Archer as soon as possible on 96593578 or darcher@vthc.org.au
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Toys R Us raided over suspicions of ripping off staff in Sydney
Source: The Daily Telegraph
December 04, 2008
THE giant multi-national retailer Toys R Us has been raided by federal officers over suspicions it has ripped millions of dollars off thousands of young workers.In an extraordinary move, 10 inspectors from the Government’s Workplace Ombudsman’s office this week swooped on the company’s Regent Park headquarters and its Chatswood and Moore Park stores in New South Wales.
The move follows an admission by the company that it may not have properly paid countless current and former staff. It may now be taken to court.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal some of the humiliating conditions Toys R Us staff are forced to work under, such as compulsory bag checks when leaving stores and a holidays ban for four months of the year.
It comes amid a company push for young workers to staff its stores over the Christmas rush - and just a week after the Workplace Ombudsman warned teenagers to be wary of dodgy bosses.
Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell confirmed Tuesday’s raids and said officers met with senior management yesterday to discuss further action.
“The Federal Workplace Ombudsman is investigating the Sydney-based company, Toys R Us.
As part of this investigation, 10 inspectors from our NSW office on Tuesday morning made unannounced visits to the company’s head office at Regent’s Park and to stores at both Chatswood and Moore Park,” he said.
“Toys R Us voluntarily approached the Workplace Ombudsman and admitted shortcomings in its agreement-making processes with staff which could potentially have resulted in underpayments to thousands of current and former young workers from its stores throughout Australia.
“The Workplace Ombudsman has yet to fully assess the financial impact of the errors, but discussions with the company have suggested the underpayments are likely to be very significant. It is too early to say if there will be legal action against the company.”
It is understood the company could end up owing workers several million dollars in unpaid wages from its 33 Australian stores.
A Toys R Us spokesman did not deny the allegations, saying: “We have the best interest of our employees at heart and we’re working towards a favourable resolution with the Workplace Ombudsman.”
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The FairWear Sweat Free Christmas Carols
December 4, 2008
FairWear invites you to FairWear Sweat Free Christmas Carols!
FairWear has been making its list, and checking it twice, trying to find out who’s been naughty and nice to outworkers and clothing workers this year! And have we got a big bag of coal for “Rich” and “Mesop”!!
“Rich” and “Mesop” have been getting fat indeed on paying Australian workers $14 per hour (well below the award wage), to make high fashion garments that are retailing for more than $700!
So come and join us on the 19th December, the week before Christmas, to sing some carols and present a bag of coal (the traditional stocking filler for naughty children at Christmas time) to the “Rich” and “Mesop” retail outlet.
The FairWear Sweat Free Christmas Carols
Meet Santa at 12:30pm, Friday
19th December at 375
Brunswick St, Fitzroy (cnr with Rose St)
Contact FairWear:
Phone: 9251 5270 Mobile: 0421 979 694
Email: fairwear@fairwear.org.au
Web: www.fairwear.org.au
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Apprentice wins sexual harassment case against male boss
Apprentice wins sexual harassment case against male boss
Ewin Hannan | November 18, 2008
Article from: The Australian
A MALE boss sexually harassed a male apprentice by repeatedly inviting him to shower with him, touching his genitals, and grabbing him from behind while simulating sex and making pig noises.
Christopher Thomas won $35,000 in damages after a tribunal found his former boss, Dean Alexiou, sexually harassed him between 2003 and 2006.
The tribunal found Mr Alexiou appeared to be motivated by either a desire to bully Mr Thomas in front of his co-workers, or a belief his behaviour was an appropriate form of workplace horseplay.
The harassment started soon after Mr Thomas began work as a 17-year-old apprentice engine reconditioner for the Melbourne company Westpoint Cylinder Heads in January 2003.
More of the article
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Workplace information for young people
Shifts and holidays
- Generally you should be rostered and paid for a minimum number of hours per shift.
- You should start and finish your shift at the rostered time even if work is busy or quiet, unless you and your employer both agree otherwise.
- Generally you should get an unpaid break if you work five hours or more.
- You can say no to working public holidays if you have reasonable grounds. It depends on the kind of work you, whether you get extra pay or other benefits for working public holidays, how much notice you’re given, your reasons for refusing or your personal circumstances (including family responsibilities).
Finishing up
- You generally have to give your employer notice you’re resigning from your job. If you don’t give enough notice your employer can keep wages to cover the notice period, so check your award or agreement first.
- Generally, if you’re a casual employee your job may be terminated at one hour’s notice.
- If you’re employed full-time or part-time you should be paid out any annual leave owing to you when your employment ends.
- You can’t be sacked because of things like your race, sex, age, physical or mental disability, sexual preference, or for filing a complaint against your employer for breaching a law.
Getting paid
- Unpaid ‘trials’ are generally against the law. You shouldn’t be asked to work for free.
- You should be paid for all hours you work, including meetings or training and any time you spend opening and closing the business.
- In most jobs you will be paid junior rates until you turn 21.
- You should be given a pay slip within one day of being paid.
- Money can’t be taken out of your pay if customers leave without paying or if the cash register is short.
- ‘Cash in hand’ is when you are paid without tax being taken out and it is against the law.
- You should give your employer your tax file number otherwise you can be taxed at a higher rate
Go here for more information
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