A 20 year-old Melbourne hospitality worker is taking Grill’d Burgers to the Federal Court today in a bid to get her job back, after being sacked for raising concerns about below-award wages.
Lawyers acting for United Voice, the hospitality union, have filed for an urgent interlocutory injunction, asking the court to reinstate member Kahlani Pyrah.
United Voice members hope this legal action will send a strong message to hospitality employers that this kind of intimidation and victimisation of workers who want to have a voice at work has to stop now.
Overnight there was an enormous outpouring of support for Ms Pyrah on social media and her petition to be reinstated received almost 7000 signatures.
Ms Pryah was sacked after raising questions with Grill’d about a WorkChoices-era “Greenfield Agreement” that removes overtime, penalty rates and undercuts award pay.
When Ms Pyrah began at Grill’d Camberwell in June 2014 she received a flat-rate trainee wage of just $15.20 p/hr. There was no on-the-job training and it has been revealed Grill’d failed to register her as a trainee. Under the award she would be paid $18.02.
When she turned 20 she was paid a flat rate of $17.50 p/hr. But under the Restaurant Award she was entitled to be paid $18.47 plus shift loadings. For Sunday shift she would be entitled to be paid $27.41 p/hr, meaning she missed out on $52.05 per 4.5 hour shift.
Ms Pyrah received advice from her union that Grill’d staff could ask the Fair Work Commission to terminate the job contract and receive their full award entitlements.
Ms Pyrah held a meeting with co-workers to discuss their options and circulated a petition to management asking to be paid full award entitlements which was signed by eight staff.
But despite repeated promises over many months Grill’d management failed to satisfactorily address staff concerns. On 30 June Ms Pyrah applied to the Fair Work Commission to terminate the Work Choices-era job contract.
Ten days later Ms Pyrah was sacked by Grill’d.
Ms Pyrah is accused of bullying two male managers. Both are older, more senior and considerably taller than Ms Pyrah, who is 5 foot and recently turned 20. Ms Pyrah has provided a comprehensive rebuttal to these allegations.
“Kahlani’s case is a shocking example of just how hard it is for vulnerable workers to join together and have a voice at work,” said Jess Walsh, United Voice Victorian Secretary.
“Kahlani has been incredibly brave speaking up for her coworkers and asking Grill’d to respect their legal rights. For that, Grill’d has tried to silence her and force her out of her job.”
“It’s disgusting treatment. We will fight this injustice. That’s what unions are for."
“There is a toxic culture in many hospitality venues in Australia. Our office is inundated by calls from workers being bullied, intimidated and underpaid. We want to send a strong message to employers: this kind of treatment of vulnerable workers has to stop now."
Ms Pryah says she is devastated by her treatment from Grill’d Burgers.
“This job means so much to me. I am good friends with my coworkers and I really like working there. I come from regional Queensland and this job allows me to support myself while I study here in Melbourne,” she said.
“I want my job back. I want my workmates to get paid the award minimum and I want Grill’d to respect our right to join a union and speak out. This is supposed to be a democratic country so it should be our choice. But it’s not. Many of my coworkers are just too scared."
Lawyers acting for United Voice, the hospitality union, have filed for an urgent interlocutory injunction, asking the court to reinstate member Kahlani Pyrah.
United Voice members hope this legal action will send a strong message to hospitality employers that this kind of intimidation and victimisation of workers who want to have a voice at work has to stop now.
Overnight there was an enormous outpouring of support for Ms Pyrah on social media and her petition to be reinstated received almost 7000 signatures.
Ms Pryah was sacked after raising questions with Grill’d about a WorkChoices-era “Greenfield Agreement” that removes overtime, penalty rates and undercuts award pay.
When Ms Pyrah began at Grill’d Camberwell in June 2014 she received a flat-rate trainee wage of just $15.20 p/hr. There was no on-the-job training and it has been revealed Grill’d failed to register her as a trainee. Under the award she would be paid $18.02.
When she turned 20 she was paid a flat rate of $17.50 p/hr. But under the Restaurant Award she was entitled to be paid $18.47 plus shift loadings. For Sunday shift she would be entitled to be paid $27.41 p/hr, meaning she missed out on $52.05 per 4.5 hour shift.
Ms Pyrah received advice from her union that Grill’d staff could ask the Fair Work Commission to terminate the job contract and receive their full award entitlements.
Ms Pyrah held a meeting with co-workers to discuss their options and circulated a petition to management asking to be paid full award entitlements which was signed by eight staff.
But despite repeated promises over many months Grill’d management failed to satisfactorily address staff concerns. On 30 June Ms Pyrah applied to the Fair Work Commission to terminate the Work Choices-era job contract.
Ten days later Ms Pyrah was sacked by Grill’d.
Ms Pyrah is accused of bullying two male managers. Both are older, more senior and considerably taller than Ms Pyrah, who is 5 foot and recently turned 20. Ms Pyrah has provided a comprehensive rebuttal to these allegations.
“Kahlani’s case is a shocking example of just how hard it is for vulnerable workers to join together and have a voice at work,” said Jess Walsh, United Voice Victorian Secretary.
“Kahlani has been incredibly brave speaking up for her coworkers and asking Grill’d to respect their legal rights. For that, Grill’d has tried to silence her and force her out of her job.”
“It’s disgusting treatment. We will fight this injustice. That’s what unions are for."
“There is a toxic culture in many hospitality venues in Australia. Our office is inundated by calls from workers being bullied, intimidated and underpaid. We want to send a strong message to employers: this kind of treatment of vulnerable workers has to stop now."
Ms Pryah says she is devastated by her treatment from Grill’d Burgers.
“This job means so much to me. I am good friends with my coworkers and I really like working there. I come from regional Queensland and this job allows me to support myself while I study here in Melbourne,” she said.
“I want my job back. I want my workmates to get paid the award minimum and I want Grill’d to respect our right to join a union and speak out. This is supposed to be a democratic country so it should be our choice. But it’s not. Many of my coworkers are just too scared."
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