THE PENALTY RATE CUT IS SPREADING AND MUST BE STOPPED

Despite Malcolm Turnbull’s claims to the contrary, the threat of penalty rate cuts continues to be made to more industries, affecting more low-paid workers.

 

The Restaurant and Catering Industry today advised the Fair Work Commission (FWC) that it intends to pursue its application to cut penalty rates, confirming Labor’s fear that these cuts will spread.

 

When challenged on this very concern, Malcolm Turnbull described the possibility of the cut extending to other industries as "absurd", "lies", and "ridiculous".

The first round of penalty rate cuts was just the thin edge of the wedge of a broader assault on the take-home pay of Australian workers.

 

Millions of workers who rely on weekend penalty rates risk having their pay cut as employers continue to apply for penalty rates to be reduced across a range of other sectors. 

 

That is why Labor made submissions to the FWC opposing the proposal that the Restaurant Industry should get a second chance to convince the FWC to cut the penalty rates of 143,975 workers under their award. 

 

These are Malcolm Turnbull’s cuts: he supports them, he could stop them if he wanted.

 

Rather than stand up for low income workers, Malcolm Turnbull has actually reinforced his support of cuts to the take home pay of low paid workers.

 

Labor is completely opposed to any cuts to penalty rates. A Shorten government will restore penalty rates and legislate that they can never be cut again. 

 

Labor knows that for these workers weekend penalty rates are not a luxury, they are what pay the bills and puts food on the table.