Comments on: Are workers stranded in pre-backflip AWA jobs?

By: Panadawn

Panadawn — Fri, 11 May 2007 10:44:32 +0000

15 year-olds have always been ripped off, when did that become an AWA thing?

The fact is large multinationals and corporate giants negotiate their own conditions with unions, separate from industry-wide conditions.

The result is small businesses are stuck paying higher wages than coles, woolworths and mcdonalds because the giants have worked out their own deals with the unions.

By: Sacha

Sacha — Wed, 09 May 2007 01:45:11 +0000

So you got paid to be Santa? I was Santa one year in a private music school I was teaching in and don’t remember if I was paid for it. It was fun anyway.

“In job markets with high turnover, few workers are likely to be entirely ’stranded’. And the fact that they are not means that employers will face pressure to pay the going rate.”

I agree with this. Politically, this backflip by the federal govt will help lessen the negatives associated with workchoices. I suspect that much of the focus will now be on the unfair dismissal legislation.

By: backroom girl

backroom girl — Wed, 09 May 2007 01:32:32 +0000

Daniel

I agree with you about the award. I had a look at the Victorian Retail Award to try and get my head around what my daughter’s entitlements might otherwise have been and all I could think was that it must be an absolute nightmare for people in small retail businesses trying to get their payroll right. Might work for large organisations who can computerise everything (though that also comes with a fair cost I dare say), but if I was running a small business I think I would want it to be as simple as possible.

By: daniel parsons

daniel parsons — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:12:29 +0000

A few years back when I was 15 and started my first job, on $8.30 an hour for 3 hours one evening per week, it was definitely worth it. That $24.90 each week felt like freedom made tangible.

Also, I signed my AWA the day before this AWA backflip happened, and I have no regrets. My simple and clear 11-page AWA replaces the old 200+ page award I used to be employed under, which was ridiculously complex and included stupid clauses about how many cents extra per hour you are to be paid if you happen to be dressed as a Santa.

By: backroom girl

backroom girl — Mon, 07 May 2007 23:12:15 +0000

Zhasper - my 15 year old daughter works in a retail job at her local IGA, where they do not pay penalty rates. (Strangely enough, she is employed permanent part-time, though she would rather be casual and get a higher hourly rate!). She is already planning her next step up the retail ladder - probably to Kmart.

Of course, she is in the happy situation of working for extra spending money, not to keep body and soul together, but in that respect she is probably similar to most other employed 15 year olds.

By: Rajat Sood

Rajat Sood — Mon, 07 May 2007 22:10:22 +0000

A couple of years back, I asked a kid working at the Glenrowan McDonalds on the Hume Fwy how much she got paid. It was nine dollars something and it was a Saturday. I couldn’t believe she found it worth getting out of bed for that much but what is worthwhile pay is in the eyes of the beholder.

By: Andrew Norton

Andrew Norton — Mon, 07 May 2007 11:22:17 +0000

“Do you know, personally, anyone in the 15-19 age bracket, working in retail, accomodation, cafes, or restaurants?”

This is the first time anyone has challenged my analysis for lacking anecdotal evidence:)

By: Zhasper

Zhasper — Mon, 07 May 2007 11:12:20 +0000

Do you know, personally, anyone in the 15-19 age bracket, working in retail, accomodation, cafes, or restaurants?