An award is a legal document that sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a specific industry or job. It contains things like rates of pay, overtime, penalty rates and allowances.
It is a legally enforceable set of minimum terms and conditions of employment. Awards operate in conjunction with the National Employment Standards (a legislated set of minimum standards), and together they provide a fair and relevant minimum safety net for workers.
An award applies to employees in a particular industry or occupation. The Fair Work Commission has responsibility for making and varying Awards in the national workplace relations system. Unions, such as the SDA, can apply to change or improve Awards that apply for their members.
What this means for you
If you work at a petrol station, the relevant Award is the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award, or Vehicle Award for short. This Award outlines the minimum standards for the vehicle repair, services and retail industry.
That means petrol station workers should not receive less overall than the pay and entitlements set out in this Award.
If you work at a petrol station, you may be covered by the Vehicle Award or an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiated by the SDA.
Check with the SDA if you’re unsure what applies to you.
The Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award covers most vehicle repair and service establishments, including petrol stations.
The vehicle industry means:
- sale and distribution of vehicles and vehicle parts and accessories
- sale of fuel and oils (including roadhouses run by the same business)
- repairing, servicing and maintaining vehicles and vehicle parts and accessories (including servicing, repair and maintenance work in a motor vehicle rental business)
- selling, retreading, fitting and repairing tyres
- dismantling, wrecking, recycling, customising, modifying and restoring vehicles
- roadside assistance, including towing vehicles
- preparing vehicles for sale, including vehicle assembly
- parking and storing vehicles
- washing and detailing vehicles
- driving schools.
Vehicles include cars, trucks, motorcycles, caravans, trailers, carriages, train and tram cars as well as boats and jet skis that can be carried on a trailer. Larger vessels and bicycles are not included.
Employees covered by the Vehicle Award include:
- tradespersons such as mechanics, automotive technicians, panel beaters, painters, fitters and turners, welders and automotive electricians and
- apprentices in these trades
- salespersons
- driveway attendants, console operators and roadhouse attendants
- car washers, polishers and detailers
- tyre fitters and wheel aligners
- tow truck drivers
- windscreen fitters and repairers
- service receptionists.
SDA members have access to exclusive pay and conditions resources.
This is just a snapshot of a handful of entitlements in the General Retail Industry Award – there’s many more.
As part of your SDA union membership, you can access detailed information about your award or agreement. This includes a full copy of your award or agreement.
