7-Eleven stores back-pay Sydney workers $50,000
7-Eleven workers in Sydney have been back paid over $50,000 after a Fair Work Ombudsman’s investigation prompted by UNITE. The following is an excerpt from the media release from the Fair Work Ombudsman:
“Fifteen convenience stores in Sydney’s CBD will reimburse 80 workers more than $50,000 after an investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman found the employees were being underpaid.
Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says inspectors have checked the books of 50 stores selected at random.
About half the stores targeted for scrutiny received surprise night-time visits so inspectors could speak directly to staff, many of whom were from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Mr Campbell says the convenience stores – mostly 24-hour, seven-days-a-week businesses in the inner city – were audited following public allegations by a retail union that young employees were being exploited and that some employers were forging employment records.
He says 15 stores were found to be short-changing staff, mostly because they paid a flat hourly rate and failed to pay weekend and late-night penalties - and 14 were found to be in breach of workplace law because of inadequate record keeping.
Mr Campbell says the exercise provided a good opportunity for the Fair Work Ombudsman to inform and educate employers about their legal obligations to staff and also to increase awareness among vulnerable workers that they do have workplace rights and there is an Agency charged with enforcing them.
With 40 audits finalised, inspectors have recouped a total of $50,551 for 80 workers. Eight investigations remain ongoing.”
If you want to keep your wages and conditions and improve them over time join UNITE!
UNITE is a fighting union for fast food and retail workers based in Victoria. We cover 7-Eleven workers and urge you to join us today. To speak to an organizer call Anthony Main on 0417368215 or Mel Gregson on 0400 588 202 or the UNITE office on 93281555.