THE SHOP ASSISTANT 4SUMMER 2017 The issue of paid parking and fines for retail and fast food workers has raised its ugly head this year. Early in the year, the SDA was supporting our members at Moonee Ponds against the Council introducing parking limits with fines affecting retail and fast food workers. The office of Bill Shorten MP gave their support to our campaign. More recently, we have seen Westfield introduce paid parking at Southland, allegedly because of the opening of the new railway station. FREE AND SAFE PARKING STOPTHEGREEDYGRAB! While we understand why they may introduce paid parking for customers, this is an unfair tax on retail and fast food workers. $5 per day is $25 per week and up to $1,300 per year. Retail and fast food workers are low-paid workers and the majority are part-time and casual. And this has come on top of the recent penalty rate cuts! This is a cost our members cannot afford and do not deserve. Together with local MP Tim Richardson (Member for Mordialloc), we held a very successful rally on 16 October which received widespread publicity. This issue has also raised its ugly head at the Glen, which has introduced a $4 per day parking fee. The SDA is also campaigning against this unfair tax on retail and fast food workers at the Glen. SDA Victorian Secretary Michael Donovan has taken this issue to the SDA National Council ,which has unanimously condemned these charges.