This week, the Australian industrial commission handed down a decision that will cut penalty rates for thousands of workers who work on a Sunday. The decision targeted workers in the hospitality, retail and fast food sectors, who are already some of the most exploited and lowest paid workers in Australia. This attack on workers’ wages is seen as the start of a new offensive against workers’ living standards by both governments and capitalists. Penalty rates were won by unions in Australia 70 years ago through industrial action. History shows that they will only be won back by organising workers in the workplace and taking industrial action.
This week, the Australian industrial commission handed down a decision that will cut penalty rates for thousands of workers who work on a Sunday. The decision targeted workers in the hospitality, retail and fast food sectors, who are already some of the most exploited and lowest paid workers in Australia. This attack on workers’ wages is seen as the start of a new offensive against workers’ living standards by both governments and capitalists. Penalty rates were won by unions in Australia 70 years ago through industrial action. History shows that they will only be won back by organising workers in the workplace and taking industrial action.
