Don't let Turnbull ruin Christmas

Did you know this week the Productivity Commission  handed down their final report into workplace relations?

But still no word from the Turnbull Government on whether they are going to cut wages just in time for Christmas.

Send the Prime Minister a message and tell him all we want for Christmas is penalty rates.

The Commission’s recommendations are of vital importance to working people with many of our fundamental rights on the chopping block if the draft report handed down last year is unchanged.

Penalty rates, worker’s allowances, the minimum wage and other hard-won working conditions are all up for grabs.

We are hoping the Commissioners have listened to reason and withdrawn moves to cut weekend rates for hospitality, retail, entertainment, café and restaurant workers.

But if not, the take home pay of more than 4.5 million hard working Australians will be slashed by about 30%.

These workers are already some of the lowest paid in our society - and at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet - this will be a huge blow they simply can’t afford.

Penalty rates are in place as compensation for working unsociable hours that take workers away from their families and events that only happen on the weekends.

But the Turnbull Government and greedy employers don’t seem to care about the sacrifices workers make and will do everything in their power to cut wages.

Even if this means workers will have less money to spend at the very businesses Turnbull is claiming he wants to help. That’s why we must make a stand to stop them.

Tell the government today that they have no right to rip penalty rates away.

Australian Unions recently released disturbing figures that show the true impact of any cuts to penalty rates, not only on workers and their families but on entire communities.

Regional Australia alone will take a hit of up to $1.55 billion every year if penalty rates are scrapped. We can’t let this happen.

The Prime Minister needs to know that these regional workers are voters too and one in five work in the retail and hospitality industry.

It’s time for the government to stand up for working Australians and protect our living standards.

Send the PM a message now.

In union,

Mark Lennon

Secretary, Unions NSW