UNIONS PLAY VITAL ROLE IN UNCOVERING WAGE THEFT

Unions are playing a vital role in combating Australia’s wage theft epidemic – so why is Scott Morrison still trying to destroy them?

Target’s $9 million wage underpayment, announced today, was exposed because the relevant union – the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association – requested retail payroll audits last year.

After nearly seven years in power the Liberals appear to have finally realised Australians are fed up with companies that rip off their workers. But their sudden tough talk – yet to be backed up by any action – cannot be trusted while they continue to attack workers with their union-bashing Ensuring Integrity Bill.
 
Unions have always played an essential role exposing these scandals. But this is a Bill that could see unions – the best advocates workers have on wage theft – shut down over minor paperwork breaches.
 
Scott Morrison can’t have it both ways. He can’t pretend he’s tough on wage theft while simultaneously trying to smash the unions.
 
Unions fight to stamp out worker exploitation and for better wages. The Government on the other hand wants to keep workers down, calling low wages growth a “deliberate design feature” of its policies.

WEDNESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2020