This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/26/sunday-penalty-rate-cuts-the-result-of-errors-of-law-federal-court-told

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Sunday penalty rate cuts the result of 'errors of law', federal court told Sunday penalty rate cuts the result of 'errors of law', federal court told
(about 15 hours later)
Unions representing hospitality and retail workers are challenging the decision to drop rates by five percentage points
Australian Associated Press
Tue 26 Sep 2017 06.14 BST
Last modified on Sat 2 Dec 2017 17.50 GMT
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
View more sharing options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Close
The Fair Work Commission made errors of law when it decided to slash Sunday penalty rates, a full bench of the federal court has been told.The Fair Work Commission made errors of law when it decided to slash Sunday penalty rates, a full bench of the federal court has been told.
Unions representing hospitality and retail workers are challenging the commission’s decision in June to drop Sunday rates by five percentage points for workers in the fast food, hospitality, retail and pharmacy sectors, starting 1 July.Unions representing hospitality and retail workers are challenging the commission’s decision in June to drop Sunday rates by five percentage points for workers in the fast food, hospitality, retail and pharmacy sectors, starting 1 July.
The hospitality union United Voice and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association have launched the federal court action to keep workers’ penalty rates the same for Sundays and public holidays.The hospitality union United Voice and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association have launched the federal court action to keep workers’ penalty rates the same for Sundays and public holidays.
Herman Borenstein QC, for United Voice, told the first day of the federal court hearing in Melbourne the commission had erred in law.Herman Borenstein QC, for United Voice, told the first day of the federal court hearing in Melbourne the commission had erred in law.
“There was no analysis in this decision … that sought to identify whether there’d been a material change in circumstances,” Borenstein told the panel of judges on Tuesday. “The determinations were made on the basis of various errors of law.”“There was no analysis in this decision … that sought to identify whether there’d been a material change in circumstances,” Borenstein told the panel of judges on Tuesday. “The determinations were made on the basis of various errors of law.”
In failing to determine whether there were adequate grounds for change, the commission failed to produce a fair and relevant set of conditions for the workers, he said.In failing to determine whether there were adequate grounds for change, the commission failed to produce a fair and relevant set of conditions for the workers, he said.
Employer and business groups including the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Hotels Association, and the New South Wales Business Chamber will argue the cuts should be respected.Employer and business groups including the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Hotels Association, and the New South Wales Business Chamber will argue the cuts should be respected.
Under the Fair Work Commission’s decision, the first cut to penalty rates will be five percentage points, with more significant cuts in 2018 and 2019 for fast food and hospitality workers.Under the Fair Work Commission’s decision, the first cut to penalty rates will be five percentage points, with more significant cuts in 2018 and 2019 for fast food and hospitality workers.
Retail and pharmacy workers will have cuts to their rates phased in until 2020. United Voice says the cuts will hit lowest paid workers the hardest.Retail and pharmacy workers will have cuts to their rates phased in until 2020. United Voice says the cuts will hit lowest paid workers the hardest.
The hearing is set down for three days.The hearing is set down for three days.
Industrial relations
Business (Australia)
Retail industry
news
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Reuse this content