Maintain the wage

HUONVILLE cafe employees Amy Ashlin and Kelly Schmidt are among retail and hospitality workers who have not had their Sunday penalty rates cut.

The Hairy Giraffe cafe coowners Pagan Kelly and Paul Wakefield said they chose not to cut penalty rates at their business. They said while it meant there were days when they wouldn’t make a profit, retaining good employees and ensuring their pay was not reduced was more important.

“They happily come to work because they know we pay them properly and they generally come to work with a smile on their face,” she said.

Ms Ashlin said penalty rates were important for her family.

“As a single mother of two it’s just less of a stress on me working,” she said. “I can’t work as much as I would like to so the hours that I do work are important.”

Mr Wakefield said he didn’t want to see his employees’ earnings go backwards.

Penalty rate cuts, approved by the Fair Work Commission, took effect from yesterday, affecting many retail, fast food, hospitality and pharmacy workers whose weekend and public holiday penalty rates dropped by 10-15 per cent.

Braddon Labor candidate Justine Keay said some Tasmanian workers would be $3000 a year worse off as a result of the penalty rate cuts.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten yesterday said Labor would reverse the penalty rate cuts in the first 100 days of government if it is elected.

Workplace Minister Craig Laundy said the decision was made by the independent industrial umpire, which was set up by Labor. He said Labor plans to stop the penalty wage cuts would go against more than 100 years of independently set wages in Australia.

Also yesterday, federal politicians, judges and senior public servants were given a 2 per cent pay rise.

“I invite any politician to walk in here, look me and my staff in the eye and justify how they can reduce one and increase the other,” the Hairy Giraffe’s Pagan Kelly said.