Many young people will take on a casual job to make some extra cash over the summer period. It’s the busiest time of the year for areas such as retail, fast food and hospitality. Most shops put on extra staff to cover their increased workload. It is common for bosses to try and rip young workers off during this period. Some of the problems young workers face include; the underpayment of wages, not being given rest breaks, bullying and harassment or unsafe working conditions.
By Kylie McGregor, Socialist Party Melbourne

Long hours - Low pay

Many young people over summer will be working long hours, and most will be working on the bare minimum wage. If you are under 21 most probably you will be on youth wages. Fast food and retail industries more than any other industry pay only the minium wage.

The fast food industry is a source of employment for thousands of young people and these days more young people than ever work. Students, including high school students today are under enormous pressure to earn money. Today, often both parents work – and their children have to work too.

Youth wages equal massive profits

Fast food like no other industry relies on young people. No other industry has a workforce so dominated by young workers. Young people open the fast food outlets in the morning; they close them at night and keep them going all hours in between. Even the managers and assistant managers are often in their teens. By hiring a large number of inexpensive workers and sending them home when things are slow, the fast food chains are able to keep their labour costs low.

Fast food and retail chains have built their business on the backs of young workers. Paying youth wages and employing most of their staff on a casual basis is the key to their massive profit margins.
Employing staff on a casual on a casual basis allows these massive corporations to save money by not having to pay out holiday pay, sick pay and all of the other benefits permanent staff receive. About 27% of the Australian workforce is employed on a casual basis, but for young workers the figure is much higher at about 60%.

Make youth wages History

In recent years there have been many courageous attempts by young people all around the world to organise service industries like fast food. The Unite union in New Zealand has recently successfully fought to abolish youth wages in several outlets. All workers regardless of their age are now paid a minimum of 90% of adult rates in major fast food chains like Pizza Hut, Starbucks and KFC. This has meant wage increases for younger workers of up to 34.2%!

Younger supervisors now earn the full adult supervisors rate for the job. Unite in NZ has also achieved secure hours - putting an end to the total casualisation of hours in these workplaces. Through young people getting organised in unions, they have proved that it’s possible to make great gains in improving conditions for young people at work and that it is possible to make youth wages history!

SP supports the UNITE union in Australia. UNITE also aims to get rid of youth wages, low pay and casualisation. SP also runs campaigns for young workers rights. If you want to get involved and play a part in the campaign make youth wages and low wages history, get in contact with SP to find out more and what you can do.

If you work in fast food and want to become part of a fighting union in Victoria that will protect, and improve your rights and conditions at work contact UNITE on 03 9328 1555