Labour Day spotlight falls on penalty rates
A NEW Australian Council of Trade Unions executive member has used her Labour Day message to say Cairns could start a movement against casualisation of the workforce.
Recently appointed ACTU secretary Sally McManus chose the Far North to make her first speech after taking office six weeks ago.
More than 400 took to the streets on Saturday ahead of today’s Labour Day public holiday to draw attention to the effects of proposed penalty rate changes on hospitality and retail workers.
The annual Cairns Labour Day family fun day and street march in Fogarty Park drew union representatives from all over the country. “Regional unemployment is a big issue and a disgrace and I think people in the cities forget about that,” Ms McManus said.
“Here in Far North Queensland there are more people on penalty rates than elsewhere in the country.
“It’s going to have a big impact on this country.”
Ms McManus cited data from a McKell Institute report to be released today which revealed 9300 workers in the Cairns region would be affected by the reduction of penalty rates.
More than $21 million in income would be lost.
“Nearly all workers in this area are casual and it’s only in a short period of time that’s changed,” Ms McManus said.
“This is really changing people’s lives. (Leichhardt MP) Warren Entsch needs to make a decision to stop the cuts.”
But Mr Entsch said he had taken the side of small business.
“You’re not going to have a totally inexperienced 18-yearold getting paid $50 an hour — that’s not going to provide employment because businesses won’t employ them for that much,” he said.
“There are many young people in university and suddenly they’re finding people can’t afford to employ them.
“We are not getting rid of penalty rates, there is simply a reduction.
“How many cups of coffee have you got to sell on a public holiday to be able to make that $50 an hour?”