7-Eleven workers losing in numbers game: union
The following article appeared in this week’s Melbourne Times:
By Genevieve Gannon
Fair Work is investigating 7-Eleven franchises in Victoria over claims of exploitation. The union for fast food and retail workers, UNITE, said international students, particularly Indians, had become common targets.
UNITE secretary Anthony Main said some 7-Eleven workers were being paid half what they were entitled to.
A year-long campaign has uncovered proven cases of exploitation, and 88 7-Eleven workers in Melbourne’s CBD shared in more than $100,000 in unpaid wages.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has now launched an investigation into 63 more 7-Eleven stores, which could spark a statewide investigation, if enough breaches are found.
Mr Main said the union had been “flat-out to find a single employer that was doing the right thing”.
“Profits have been made off the super-exploitation of mainly Indian students,” he said.
Mr Main said employees were working shifts of up to 16 hours and were not being given proper breaks or leave entitlements.
The union is also investigating claims of unpaid trial periods- one workers told UNITE he had worked unpaid for two months.
“We represent 20 guys down in Geelong and every single one of them has done unpaid trial work,” Mr Main said.
The Ombudsman, in partnership with 7-Eleven head office, is investigating employers that have failed to pay workers, neglected to pay penalty rates and have not complied with record-keeping obligations.
Fair Work Ombudsman executive director Michael Campbell said many 7-Eleven staff were vulnerable to exploitation as they were mainly international students, migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds or young people who were not aware of their rights.
The Victorian 7-Eleven head office is helping the Fair Work Ombudsman, but declined to comment.
National franchisee manager Geraldine Dzielakowski said in a media release 7-Eleven took the obligations of its franchisees as employers extremely seriously.
“Every 7-Eleven franchisee operates as an independent, privately owned business.”
Mr Main said the Ombudsman should investigate the head office, too.
“They don’t have a legal obligation to pay, but they certainly have a moral one,” he said.