ACTU – Casuals robbed nationwide by broken work laws

19 November 2018

Casuals around Australia and across a wide variety of industries and occupations are being ripped off, in some cases being paid even less than permanent staff.

A paper released today by the peak body for working people has blown apart the myth perpetrated by the business lobby that casuals are paid a significant premium for the loss of leave rights and job security.

The Myth of the Casual Wage Premium paper found:

• Australia has the highest proportion of temporary labour in the OECD at one in four
• Most casuals are not paid 25 percent more than permanent workers in the same job
• The longer someone works in a casual position the more likely they are to be paid less than permanent staff
• About half of all casuals say they would prefer permanent employment with paid leave rights and job security

In most industries and occupations examined, the casual wage premium was five percent or less. For several, including sports and fitness workers, clerks, and packers and product assemblers, the “premium” was actually negative.

Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus:  

• “This research shows what people who are being ripped off in casual work already knew – that our work rules are unfair and we need to change them.  
• “Casual pay on average is actually around two to five percent more in similar occupations, and many people get paid less than permanent staff, particularly in lower-paid work – not the supposed 25 percent premium.
• “Casual work should be exactly that – work where shifts can vary and there is no legitimate expectation of ongoing work.
• “While some people do choose casual work because they need flexibility, many would prefer the paid leave and security that comes with permanent work.  
• “People who are engaged as genuine casuals should receive a genuine premium for the lack of paid leave and job security.
• “Big business has been rorting our system, using loopholes and underhanded arrangements to pay some casuals even less than permanent workers doing the same job.
• “This is another reason for the gender pay gap, as women are more likely to be working as casuals.
• “This is unfair and it needs to stop. We need to change the rules so that working people – no matter how they’re engaged – have fair pay and more secure jobs.”

ACOSS – Newstart Support

Friday November 16, 2018

From Kerryn to Derryn, Bob to Bandt – entire lower house crossbench and key senate crossbenchers support increase to Newstart

ACOSS can confirm that all of the crossbenchers of the Lower House of federal Parliament and key Senate crossbenchers now support an increase to Newstart.

“When Adam Bandt, Cathy McGowan, Kerryn Phelps, Andrew Wilkie, Rebekha Sharkie, and Bob Katter all agree, it’s time to stop talking and act,” said ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie.

“The diverse crossbench’s unity on increasing Newstart confirms just how out of touch the major parties are on this issue, as does polling which finds 68% of the community agrees we must increase Newstart.

“Most people receiving Newstart live below the poverty line. It is very difficult to look for a job when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from or how to put food on the table for your kids. For years, people have been telling their story, trying to get the Federal Government to hear them.

“It’s time for the Coalition Government to listen, and most importantly to act now to increase Newstart by $75 per week. 

“The rate of Newstart has not been increased in real terms for 24 years, and since 2014, the Coalition Government has been trying to cut the payment even further. While the Labor Opposition has promised a review of Newstart should it win government, people cannot afford to keep waiting in poverty for politicians to finally act.

“We strongly call on the major parties to work together to urgently steer bipartisan legislation to raise the rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance through the Australian Parliament before the holiday season.

“It’s time politicians righted this long-standing wrong and delivered social justice to people on the very lowest incomes in our wealthy country.

“There is broad agreement across the community, from business groups, the union movement and a growing number of politicians including the Greens, Labor Chief Ministers, independents and Mayors, as well as John Howard and John Hewson, that we must finally lift the rate of Newstart after 24 years.

“Many of us are a job loss or a relationship break down away from relying on our social security safety net. We can afford a decent social security safety net and universal access to services by ensuring that businesses and individuals contribute their fair share of tax.

“We are, at our heart, a compassionate country and we want to be proud of who we are.”

A Snob Song – Then as Now

A Snob Song! (1922)
(By Jean Bell.)

Though there has been no straight out declaration on the part of Capitalist candidates for the Provinces in favor of the  imposition of University fees, there have been some guarded references to "discrimination" in the matter of selecting students.

The Labor candidates believe in discrimination as it applies to an entrant's personal fitness or character, but strongly object to the "discrimination" which, would take cognisance only of the wealth and social standing of the student's parents, to the exclusion of the children of working classes. They would not, for instance, be guilty of singing the following snob song-

'Twould surely be a howling joke,
A farce to tickle all creation,
To educate the common folk
Above their station !

High fees will stop our kin and kith
From being with Bill Bowyangs handed,
Our sons and daughters mixing with
The hornyhanded !

The poor man at the poll--oh yes !--
May mingle with the moneyed voter;
In Halls of Learning--no"--unless
He owns a motor !

His entry is the tradesmen's door--
The front to him must show defiance--
Imagine him a Bachelor
Of Arts or Science !

Without high fees a worker's brat
Might soon attain a scholar's station--
He might--Gadsooks !--be honored at
A Graduation !

The toil-stained serf who humps a hod
Might wear a "mortarboard" in season ;
He might become a classic god ;

So, for that reason,
We'll have to make the entrance stiff,
To stifle that absurd ambition,
Which urges him to seek a different position.

The higher steeps of learning's joys.
The college honors and the passes,
Were never meant for girls and boys
Of working classes.

To working girls we'll close the door,
And bar their brains, and wilt their wishes--
Enough that they should scrub the floor
And wash the dishes !

No boy who owns a working dad
May venture 'cross our boodled borders--
The cheek and impudence of (Gad !)
The lower orders !

'Twould he a sacriligious sin,
A crime beyond all knowledge mortal.
Should e'er this rabble enter in
Our Sacred Portal !

High Fees must be our Sentries bold
To keep our Walls against the spoilers,
To guard the Privilege of Gold
Against the Toilers !

Notes

From the West Australian Newspaper The Westralian Worker 19 May 1922 p. 3.

The end of the Great War saw a period of hope that the old ways might change lives for the better and the growing labour movement demanding better conditions and rights for workers.

CFMEU – The Rules Are Broken

MEAA – Save Sydney’s historic Theatre Royal.

A campaign featuring some of Sydney’s best-known actors and leading theatre producers has been launched to save Sydney’s historic Theatre Royal.

Save Sydney's Theatre Royal

A deal done nearly 40 years ago to ensure the theatre had a permanent home is being ignored by the current owners. The Theatre Royal has operated from its current site since 1875.

Live Performance Australia’s President, Andrew Kay AM, said the live theatre industry isn’t going to sit idly by while over a century of history is destroyed so a property developer can make a few extra dollars.

“Sydney is already desperately short of capacity and needs 3000 to 4000 additional seats to avoid losing more and more shows interstate. The permanent loss of the Theatre Royal would be a serious blow to the viability of live theatre and a blot against the good name of Sydney as a truly international city.”

In 1972, faced with demolition by the developer of the MLC Centre, Sydneysiders rallied to save the Theatre, with thousands attending protest meetings at Sydney’s Town Hall. Sydney’s leading actors, politicians, combined with trade unions to force the developer to change their plans.

Faced with a huge backlash from Sydneysiders, the development company Lend Lease agreed to change their designs for the future MLC Centre to include a new purpose built 1200 seat theatre to replace the old Theatre Royal. In exchange for saving the theatre, Lend Lease was given up to 8000 square metres of extra commercial office space or close to six additional floors as compensation. The value of this ‘deal’ provides to the owners and shareholders an additional $9-11 million of commercial office rent per year or when capitalised adds over $200m to the building’s value.

However, the new owners DEXUS/GPT are now reneging on this deal and the theatre has been closed for over two years.

“We are turning away shows every month due to a lack of suitable venues in Sydney in which to show them. This building needs to be retained as a theatre contributing to the culture of Sydney, not yet another high end retail outlet,” said Kay.

Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance Chief Executive, Paul Murphy, said the shortage of theatre space in Sydney is currently costing hundreds of jobs for performers, creatives and crew every year.

“Scores of great Australian artists have performed at the Royal over the years and it is part of the theatrical history of this city. We urge the developers to rethink their plans and encourage all performers, crew and other theatre workers to join this campaign to retain a jewel in Sydney’s theatrical scene.”

An online petition calling on the owners to reopen the Theatre has been launched today.

“Unless someone intervenes, Sydney is about to sacrifice yet another great venue to the altar of developer greed,” Andrew Kay AM, LPA President said.