Unfair pay on Christmas Day may become ghost of Christmas past: Bandt
Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today welcomed reports that the Victorian Labor government may reverse its decision on Christmas Day pay and called on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to give Victorians back their Christmas by confirming that people working on Christmas Day will receive public holiday penalty rates.
“I am rapt to hear that the Victorian Labor government’s plan to ruin Christmas for Victorian workers may now become a ghost of Christmas past,” Mr Bandt said.
“Daniel Andrews and his Victorian Labor colleagues are feeling the pressure from the community, unions and the Greens to make sure people are paid what they deserve for working on Christmas Day.”
“It is astounding that Labor has declared people working on Christmas Day won’t get paid public holiday rates.”
“If you work on Christmas Day, you are giving up time with family and friends to serve the rest of the community and you should be paid accordingly.”
“It’s not rocket science. If you work on Christmas Day, you should be paid public holiday rates.”
“We’re hopeful that Labor will reverse its decision. But if Daniel Andrews fails to act, the Greens will introduce legislation into the Federal Parliament to protect people’s public holiday penalty rates for Christmas Day.”
“The Greens’ plan will protect people’s public holiday pay rates for Christmas and New Year’s Day in national law, so these special days are protected from future State Government Grinches.”
“The Greens are the only party who will legislate to protect penalty rates.”
Mr Bandt’s Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Christmas) Bill 2016 will ensure that public holiday penalty rates are paid to people working on Christmas Day, December 25, and New Year’s Day, January 1. This follows a commitment made by the Greens earlier this year to enshrine existing penalty rates in legislation, protecting them from any potential cuts by the Fair Work Commission.
The Greens launched a campaign to pressure Premier Daniel Andrews to ensure that people working on Christmas Day are paid what they deserve. View and sign the petition here.
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054
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