Australia : Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said Union representatives appearing at the Fair Work Australia hearings continuing in Melbourne today are more concerned about increasing their membership dollars than saving school students’ jobs.

ARA Deputy Executive Director Jennifer Cromarty said yesterday Fair Work Australia heard from two school students who previously petitioned Fair Work Australia to allow casual student workers less than three hours per shift.

“Students want to be able to work in the two hours between the end of school at 3 – 3.30pm and close of business which is 5 – 5.30pm for over 70 percent of retailers*.

“The Union representatives at the Melbourne hearings have shown little regard for school students who are unable to work for the three hours per shift required under the General Retail Award. In fact, it seems Unions are more concerned about securing hours for permanent employees who are their bread and butter in terms of membership subscriptions.

“Unions are fighting to deny school students the right to legally work for two hours after school even if the student wants the shift to fit around their other obligations. The new national three hour minimum shift for casual workers is out of touch with typical student’s balancing school, study, sport and casual work and shows no consideration for typical retail close of business times.

“Since the beginning of the hearing, the ARA has received many emails from retailers across the country who are upset they will have to turn away school students looking for work because they can’t meet the minimum shift requirements under the under the new General Retail Award,” Cromarty said.

Examples of what the ARA is hearing from retailers include:

“There is no way we are able to grant school students three hours when we are not open long enough. We roster their work around sport and other extra curricular activities they are involved with,” Retailer who is preparing to shed student workers.

“I am looking to employ a school student, because my busiest times of the day can be after school hours, between 3.30 & 5pm. After looking at these new laws, there is no way I could afford to pay someone for orking when they aren’t,” New retailer in a small town.

Source: http://www.retail.org.au/index.php/news/ARA_calls_on_FWA_to_protect_students%E2%80%99_jobs_not_union_membership_

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