The Fair Work Commission handed down a decision to reduce penalty rates on Sunday in a decision which will see thousands of workers have their weekend pay cut.

A lot of those workers, but not all, that will be hurt by the change are in the hospitality, retail or fast food industry.

Naturally, the unions and the Labor Opposition have responded in anger, the ACTU saying it would create a new class of poor.

The Commission has suggested it anticipates the positives to outweigh the negatives.

“The evidence also supports the proposition that a reduction in penalty rates is likely to read to an increase of opening hours and an increase in overall hours worked,” Fair Work Commission president Justice Iain Ross  said.

“The rate of pay for casuals will stay 25 per cent higher than that of full time and part time employees.”

Of course this generates a predictable, but fair response.

“I just love, love, love, how someone who has never worked a sunday in life gets to decide that those of us that have deserve less money. Big business running things again,” one commenter said on the Illawarra Mercury’s Facebook page on Thursday afternoon.

Or this: ”When our politicians and the like work these Saturdays and Sundays for the same pay as monday to Friday then all good. Instead they see theses days differently. Again shows the LNP is out of touch with everyday people and are looking to line the pockets of business owners more,” another said.

Or another: 

“It’s a massive slap in the face to all the Australian workers and unions members that put up a fight for years fighting for better working conditions and penalty rates in this country. The government of Australia need to hang there heads in shame we are going backwards,” Tina said on Facebook.

Then there is those on the other side of the debate: “I'm sitting on the fence because I see both sides of the argument, but am hoping that all those in favour of higher wages on Sundays are also prepared to pay more for their clothes, snacks, coffee, drinks and entertainment etc on Sundays too.”

As for who is right in this debate, which clearly has arguments of merit on both sides, maybe only time will tell.