Critical Times

The first anniversary of Work Choices is marked by another employer exploiting the Howard government’s feudal IR laws to reduce workers’ pay and conditions

National retail chain Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops expects its 1509 casual workers to sign a non-negotiable AWA that reduces their hourly pay rate, halves minimum shift hours, strips away penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, paid sick leave and laundry allowance for uniforms and makes no provision for pay increases during the five year term of the “agreement”.

According to Darrell Lea CEO John Tolmie, 400 staff have signed the AWA since September 2006 and the miserable conditions will only save the company around $80,000. The laundry allowance alone will strip workers of $112,000 (one garment per worker per week at $5.85).

What cynical timing to gouge workers at Easter, a peak sales period for chocolate retailers. No amount of candy coating will mask the bitter taste of this greedy corporate grab. A company that boasts its long Australian heritage shows contempt for the basic Aussie value of a fair go for all.

Ron Baker