The union boss leading the charge to get underpaid Illawarra young workers what they’re owed says money should be in some of their pockets within weeks.
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The victory comes as the South Coast Labour Council (SCLC) ramps up its campaign to prevent other student-aged employees from becoming future victims of exploitation at work.
SCLC secretary Arthur Rorris has revealed some of the employees who shared their stories as part of a two-month Fairfax Media investigation would soon get their backpay.
The investigation into the underpayment of workers aged between 18 and 24 – revealed by the Mercury in December – uncovered claims of exploitation in Illawarra cafes, restaurants and shops.
“We’re hoping to have money in some pockets very shortly,” Mr Rorris told the Mercury on Wednesday.
“It is pleasing to see that some of the employers have been cooperative very early in the piece and we will be in a position to make an announcement about that shortly.”
Mr Rorris has prioritised the backpay cases of the 12 workers who came forward publicly.
“Of the 12, the first batch of the first four or five … we’re talking an amount in the thousands [of dollars] and, on average, more than a thousand dollars per worker is what’s owed,” he said.
As part of its current awareness campaign, the SCLC has set up a stall at the University of Wollongong’s Orientation Festival being held this week.
“It’s not just about what’s happened. It’s obviously continuing to happen, so we need to make sure we intervene in a proactive way,” Mr Rorris said.
“In this case, we see it also as an obligation, I guess a community service that we’re doing for very young workers, first-time workers and others.”
Students are being handed flyers with information about minimum standards of pay.
Also included on the documents, Mr Rorris said, were details of “things that are not OK at work”, such as unpaid trials, not receiving payslips every time you get paid and being paid in goods or services instead of cash.
“It is not OK to be paid in food or rent,” he said.
Meanwhile, the underpayment of workers was discussed during a Labor Party-led Illawarra jobs forum this week.
Labor’s employment and workplace relations spokesman Brendan O’Connor joined the region’s federal MPs, Sharon Bird (Cunningham) and Stephen Jones (Whitlam), for the forum.
Mr O’Connor said unemployment was a significant issue in the region. The forum also tackled education and training, penalty rates, 457 work visas and unpaid work.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Read each of the 13 workers’ stories
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE?: Contact us in confidence at cos@illawarramercury.com.au
THINK YOU’VE BEEN UNDERPAID?: Call the Claim Your Pay hotline on 1300 486 466 or visit claimyourpay.com.au
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Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
