The focus of our Wangaratta (5– 11 June) and Albury/Wodonga (19-25 June) Roadshows was to alert Union members that the local Federal Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, had refused to commit to protecting penalty rates in the Federal Parliament.
Last year, we asked for input on our members’ experiences of customer abuse and violence. The feedback has made it clear that this is a huge issue for our members. Often it is related to drug abuse in our society.
The SDA believes that customer abuse and violence must be treated as an occupational health and safety issue in the retail and fast food industries.
Unions, including the SDA, have been calling for paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave to be introduced in Modern Awards through a test case in the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
The SDA has already secured Domestic Violence Leave in several union-negotiated agreements but it’s crucial for this entitlement to extend to all workers.
In June of this year, the Fair Work Commission granted a 3.3% wage increase for employees throughout Australia working under Modern Awards. This article outlines the wages and some key working conditions for hairdressers and workers operating under the Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2010.