The article ‘McDonalds defends not paying weekend penalty rates and shoppies union wage deal’ (27/08 – The Age online) fails to take into account the full package of take home pay and conditions received by McDonalds workers as a result of their SDA negotiated enterprise bargaining agreements.
At McDonalds 97% workers voted in support of having a significantly higher base rate of pay, as opposed to higher penalty rates, because in the vast majority of cases this leaves the worker better off overall.
The weekly wage in the McDonald’s Agreement is between $45-$66 a week higher than the Fast Food Award today and the premium is expanding.
Additionally, the SDA has negotiated an agreement that includes important working conditions not contained in state enterprise awards or in the 2010 National Fast Food Award.
This comprehensive package of wages and conditions includes:
- Guaranteed minimum shifts of 10 hours per week
- Shorter maximum shifts for both full-time, part-time and casual workers
- Emergency services leave
- Study leave
- Double payment as compensation if you miss a meal break
- More generous pay and conditions for delivery workers, including paid car insurance for delivery workers
- Strong annual wage increases of between 3.5% and 4.5%
SDA National Secretary said “the SDA is proud that McDonald’s workers are among the highest paid fast food workers in the world and enjoy strong rights and working conditions.”
The article also misrepresents the practice of rolling up rates into higher base rates of pay and working conditions which has been effective in securing superior wages and conditions for workers and has been utilised across many industries since the 1980s.
In the retail sector, the ‘rolling up’ penalty rates as part of the union negotiated EBAs has delivered significantly higher weekly wage rates than the award rate for Woolworths and Coles workers.
Media contact: Darren Rodrigo 0414783405
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