WAGE PAYMENT SYSTEMS – AUSTRALIA

Abbott: PM must sell penalty rates cut harder

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Original article by Joe Kelly, David Crowe, Ewin Hannan, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 3-Mar-17

Some Coalition MPs have urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to more actively promote the economic benefits of the Fair Work Commission’s decision on Sunday penalty rates. Former prime minister Tony Abbott has also urged Turnbull to place more emphasis on the potential for job creation as a result of the ruling, and says a proposal by Coalition backbencher Eric Abetz to "grandfather" the new penalty rates regime has merit. However, this is opposed by employers’ groups and the Australian Labor Party.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN SMALL BUSINESS AND FAMILY ENTERPRISE OMBUDSMAN, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Shorten pays penalty as IR attack undermined

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 24-Feb-17

The ACTU estimates that employees affected by the Fair Work Commission’s ruling on Sunday penalty rates face a reduction of between $1,800 and $A6,600 in their take-home pay. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has committed to overturning the FWC’s decision, but Employ­ment Minister Michaelia Cash notes that the FWC was given powers to review penalty rates when Shorten was workplace relations minister. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in turn noted that Shorten has previously said he would accept the FWC’s ruling on penalty rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, ACTU, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, TOURISM ACCOMMODATION AUSTRALIA, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Penalty rate cuts will not save jobs: Citi

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Original article by Anna Patty
The Age – Page: 23 : 1-Dec-16

Per Capita’s Tim Lyons says a report from Citigroup shows that retailers would not hire additional staff if penalty rates are reduced. The report concludes that retailers are likely to pass the benefits of lower penalty rates on to their shareholders in the form of higher returns or by cutting prices for consumers. It also notes that the enterprise agreements of many listed retailers have expired, and suggests that they are not renewing the agreements due to expectations of a reduction in penalty rates.

CORPORATES
CITIGROUP PTY LTD, PER CAPITA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ACTU, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, JUST GROUP LIMITED, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Penalty rate cuts will not save jobs: Citi

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Original article by Anna Patty
The Age – Page: 23 : 1-Dec-16

Per Capita’s Tim Lyons says a report from Citigroup shows that retailers would not hire additional staff if penalty rates are reduced. The report concludes that retailers are likely to pass the benefits of lower penalty rates on to their shareholders in the form of higher returns or by cutting prices for consumers. It also notes that the enterprise agreements of many listed retailers have expired, and suggests that they are not renewing the agreements due to expectations of a reduction in penalty rates.

CORPORATES
CITIGROUP PTY LTD, PER CAPITA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ACTU, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, JUST GROUP LIMITED, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Clubs face union threat on penalties

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 24-Nov-16

The Queensland branch of United Voice has sent letters to club managers warning them of the possible consequences of reducing Sunday penalty rates. The union asks clubs to specify their position on Clubs Australia’s application for a reduction in Sunday wages, lodged with the Fair Work Commission. Clubs Queensland CEO Doug Flockhart and club managers have accused the union of using bullying tactics.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, CLUBS QUEENSLAND, CLUBS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED, UNITED VOICE, REDLANDS SPORTING CLUB, MORETON BAY BOAT CLUB, SOUTHPORT SHARKS CLUB

Unions want four-year wage targets

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 11-Oct-16

United Voice, which represents hospitality industry workers, claims that the minimum wage now comprises just 53 per cent of median earnings, compared with 62 per cent in 1997. The union’s submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review argues for the introduction of a "floor" to ensure that the minimum wage does not fall below 60 per cent of the median wage. United Voice also proposes the introduction of four-year targets for increases in the minimum wage.

CORPORATES
UNITED VOICE, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, CONSERVATIVE PARTY (GREAT BRITAIN)

‘Loaded’ hourly rates could replace penalties

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Original article by James Thomson, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 30-Sep-16

Australia’s penalty rates system needs to be modernised. In its current form, it is incompatible with a 24-hour retail world. Fair Work Commission president Iain Ross suggested at "The Australian Financial Review"’s retail summit on 29 September 2016 that weekend penalty rates should be abolished in exchange for a higher hourly rate for workers employed at retail and fast-food outlets. Ross gave an example of the Hospitality Industry Award as a model that could be used in the retail sector.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, ACTU, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION

Coles deal forces union rates retreat

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 30-Aug-16

The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association has reviewed nearly 100 enterprise agreements in response to the Fair Work Commission’s decision to strike down its pay deal with Coles. The SDA’s national secretary, Gerard Dwyer, has warned that the ruling means that the union will have to cease the long-standing practice of trading off penalty rates in return for gaining higher base rates of pay for its members. The FWC ruled that the Coles enterprise agreement breached the "no disadvantage" test.

CORPORATES
SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Millions can cash out leave

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Original article by Nick Toscano
The Age – Page: 23 : 4-Aug-16

Almost two million Australian employees who are covered by the modern industrial awards system will now have the option of cashing out part of their annual leave entitlement. The Fair Work Commission’s decision to allow cashing out has the support of the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, although ACTU secretary Dave Oliver has expressed concern about the potential ramifications of the decision. The FWC is expected to issue a ruling on weekend penalty rates in September 2016.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, ACTU

Turnbull throws down the gauntlet on IR reform

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Jul-16

The Fair Work Commission is tipped to announce the outcome of its review of weekend penalty rates in sectors such as hospitality and retail in September 2016. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has indicated that the Federal Government will abide by the FWC’s decision and will not intervene, despite being urged by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to make a joint submission to the review. Turnbull in turn has called on Shorten to support proposed legislation to outlaw the payment of "corrupting benefits" by employers to unions in return for surrendering employee entitlements such as penalty rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, VICTORIA. COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, CLEANEVENT PTY LTD