National polling shows most Australians think threats to penalty rates is an important issue this Federal election.
70 percent of Australians say that protecting penalty rates is important when it comes to deciding how they will vote.
Penalty rates preservation is a critical workplace issue among those polled when it comes to deciding what could swing their vote.
The national polling was commissioned by Australian Unions and carried out between 9-13 April by Essential Research.
It comes amid attempts to abolish penalty rates by employer groups, banks and major retailers, such as Coles and Woolworths and throughout the admin, banking and finance sectors.
The polling highlights that protecting penalty rates is of more importance to women and young people.
Overall, 44 percent of Australians say they are more likely to vote for a political party with a policy to legislate to protect penalty rates, compared to 10 per cent who say they’d be less likely to vote for a party with that policy.
A retail workers on a typical roster cycle over Easter would lose $353.21, an aged care worker $623.52 and a paramedic $742.56 if penalty rates were removed from their take-home pay.
Quotes attributable to ACTU President, Michele O’Neil:
“Everyone working over this Easter break deserves their penalty rates. Give them your thanks because big employers, Peter Dutton and the Coalition won’t.
“No-one, apart from perhaps Peter Dutton could reasonably be surprised by a poll telling them that Australians think penalty rates are important in being able to earn enough income to get by.
“Penalty rates are already at risk because Peter Dutton has not intervened in the retail case to preserve retail workers’ penalty rates, despite the Albanese Government doing so.
“Peter Dutton’s record on penalty rates is also not something he wants to talk about outside of corporate boardrooms and private donor harbourside events. He voted eight times in the last Parliament against protecting workers penalty rates and they would be at risk under a Coalition government.”
Notes:
ACTU analysis of relevant awards shows the impact of penalty rates removal on workers’ take- home pay in retail, hospitality, ambulance paramedics and in aged care.
Example 1: Retail worker
A retail worker working a typical roster would be $353.21 worse off over the Easter break, without penalty rates.
Example 2: Pharmacy worker
A pharmacy worker working a typical roster would be $1, 018.8 worse off over the Easter break, without penalty rates.
Example 3: Cook at a café, grade 4, full-time
A cook at a café working a typical roster would be $562.97 worse off over the Easter break, without penalty rates.
Example 4: Paramedic Level 3, first year of service, full time
A paramedic working a typical roster would be $742.56 worse off over the Easter break, without penalty rates.
Example 5: Aged care worker at a residential facility, level 4
An aged care worker at a residential facility working a typical roster would be $623.52 worse off over the Easter break, without penalty rates.
