THE Mount Isa Irish Club will not drop its Sunday penalty rates against employees following the ruling by the Fair Work Commission.
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Manager Bernard Gillic said the changes were unfair and “not right” for hospitality workers who had to work on weekends.
“People working on weekends, a lot of them leave their families at home.
“They deserve the little bit extra they get, it’s well deserved and hard earned.”
Irish Club Sunday rates will not change for current employees.
“We won’t be changing our current set up to the new set up,” he said.
“It’s a poor decision in my opinion.
“We’ve been paying this way since the award was introduced a long time ago, there’s no reason to change.”
The reduction in penalty rates do not affect casuals working in hospitality, but they do affect Irish Club employees such as Akos Schneider.
Mr Schneider said the club’s decision to keep Sunday rates the same was “bloody awesome news”. He said that staff received a letter from management thanking them for their commitment and hard work.
“Big ups to the Irish Club for not bowing down.”
The Fair Work Commission announced its decision to reduce the minimum penalty rates on Thursday morning. Many cuts come into effect from July.
The Qld Council of Unions said the decision impacts more than 400,000 Qld workers in fast food, retail, hospitality and pharmacy industries. Their Sunday penalty rates will be reduced by up to 50 per cent. Public holiday pay will decrease up to 25 per cent.
Commerce North West president Travis Crowther understood why unions were “up in arms” with the Commission’s decision, and sympathised. “Nobody likes losing wages,” he said.
But businesses were likely to welcome the reduction in expenses. Wages were one of the biggest costs, especially for a small business, he said.
Stores may now be able to afford to open for longer or employ more workers that day. It could lessen the burden on business owners choosing to work that day.
It might mean employees could have the opportunity to earn more money overall, Mr Crowther said.