SAME JOB: SAME PAY
After several agency members at Queensland DC sites raised concerns they may have been paid less than directly employed team members during certain penalty hours, the SDA investigated and confirmed the issue.
The SDA raised this with both the company and the labour hire agency, and began preparing to apply for a Same Job Same Pay order if it wasn’t resolved.
The agency has now fixed the issue without the need for further action, with all agency and direct hire team members now being paid the correct EA rates.
The SDA has also asked all agencies at the affected sites to review their pay rates to ensure compliance, and encourages any members who are unsure about their pay to get in touch.
MEMBER REPRESENTED!
SDA Organiser Liz Berry was on hand to represent a Team Member working as a Door Greeter when he was called into a meeting after the member intervened in an attempted theft while he was at work.
The manager was concerned that the Team Member may not have adhered to the proper safety protocols as per the store policy, and may have put himself in danger.
The Team Member admitted that he was flustered at the time and did not handle the situation as he should have – but he had not physically touched the alleged thief.
Thanks to Liz being there to calmly represent the members interest, the Team Member now knows what he should do if another incident occurs, and can repeat any necessary training to help him de-escalate any issues.
Importantly, there was no disciplinary outcome, just a note on his file. The member was relieved with the outcome and appreciated having SDA support when he needed it.
GRADING STRUCTURE REVIEW
The SDA represented three members at a Queensland DC who believed they were being paid at the wrong classification for the work they were doing.
Through individual disputes, the SDA successfully had all three members reclassified and paid correctly.
Following this, the SDA pushed for a site-wide review of the grading structure. This identified additional members who were also eligible to move to a higher classification.
As a result, more members are now being paid correctly, and workers at the site have clearer pathways on the training needed to progress.
FAMILY FRIENDLY ROSTER
SDA organiser Gerard recently helped a team member at a large department store secure a roster that better supports his family and caring responsibilities.
The member had been trying to negotiate changes for several months, with ongoing back and forth between management, the SDA shop steward and the member, but no resolution.
Once Gerard became involved, he arranged a meeting with the manager and was able to quickly move things forward.
While not all of the member’s requests could be accommodated, a new roster was agreed that allows him to take on more caring responsibilities for his daughter.
PERMANENT CONTACT: SECURED!
SDA organiser Darryl recently helped a member who had been working as a casual at a department store for five years and was keen to move into a permanent role.
Despite asking her manager several times about a contract, she had been given incorrect information about casual conversion and believed she wasn’t eligible.
Darryl confirmed she was entitled to convert and arranged to meet with the manager to discuss it. Before the meeting even took place, the member was offered an 18-hour-per-week permanent contract!