UNITE, the fast food and retail workers union in Victoria, is currently campaigning to organise 7-Eleven workers in Melbourne. Below is an article from The Age newspaper and the text of a leaflet aimed at 7-Eleven workers. The Age article includes quotes from SP member and UNITE Secretary, Anthony Main.

Blitz on 24-hour shop pay levels

From The Age, August 16th 2008, by Sushi Das

The national workplace watchdog is conducting a blitz on 24-hour convenience stores in central Melbourne to see if workers, many of them overseas students, are being exploited.

The crackdown follows claims by UNITE, a fast food and retail workers union, that 7-Eleven stores are underpaying staff, with some earning as little as $9 an hour.

Workplace Ombudsman inspectors have conducted random visits to stores this week, demanding employment records to ensure workers were at least being paid minimum entitlements. The minimum wage in Australia is $13.74 an hour.

Ombudsman spokesman Craig Bildstein said some employers did not always have all staff “on the books”.

While 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd is wholly owned in Australia by the Withers and Barlow families, all 7-Eleven stores are operated by franchisees who manage the pay of their employees after advice on training and industrial relations law by the company’s head office in Mount Waverley.

There are 32 7-Eleven stores in the CBD. The number of employees is not available.

UNITE secretary Anthony Main said it was hard to believe that a multinational company such as 7-Eleven was unaware that some of its franchisees might be exploiting workers, given that their “payroll is through head office”.

He said an investigation by the union had found that franchisees were paying workers considerably less than what was shown on paperwork supplied to the 7-Eleven head office. He said workers were given “dodgy payslips” showing they were paid about $22 an hour, but some were paid for less than half the hours they worked.

David Ginsberg, chief operating officer for Australia’s 7-Eleven stores, said franchisees “operate separately to us as individual businessmen” but he was happy to assist the Ombudsman. He said the company would take action against franchisees found breaking the law.

Stop the 7-Eleven rip off!

From the UNITE website, August 13th 2008

UNITE has been informed of yet another example of young worker super-exploitation. This time it is convenience store 7-Eleven. Some workers have complained that they are only paid $9 per hour for late night and weekend shifts! Most of these workers are international students.

Do you have a 7-Eleven store near your house or workplace? If so please print out this leaflet and give it to the workers in the shop. If you can volunteer a couple of hours to visit 7-Eleven stores and let the workers know about the UNITE campaign please contact Anthony Main on 0417368215.

Below is the text of our 7-Eleven leaflet or click here to download the PDF.

Attention 7-Eleven workers - Are you getting paid $21.63 per hour?

UNITE is a union for fast food and retail workers in Victoria. We have been approached by a group of 7-Eleven workers who have told us that they are not being paid properly.

Most of these workers are international students and some are being paid as little as $9 per hour! 7-Eleven are breaking the law and we want to make sure that you are paid properly for the work you do.

On behalf of these workers we have called on the Workplace Ombudsman to investigate the employment practices at 7-Eleven. The Ombudsman has ordered 7-Eleven to produce all its employment records and is now conducting a full investigation.

If you are not being paid properly we ask that you let both UNITE and the Workplace Ombudsman know.

You should know that UNITE will not pass your details onto the Workplace Ombudsman without your permission. We understand that many international students are forced to work more than the 20 hours per week because of the low wages they are paid.

UNITE argues that if all international students were being paid the proper rates they would not have to work more than 20 hours.

It is 7-Eleven that is breaking the law by underpaying you. They are the ones who are forcing you to work more than 20 hours per week because you are under financial duress.

UNITE defends the interests of international students and campaigns for the 20 hour rule to be abolished. At the same time we fight for decent wages and conditions for all fast food and retail workers. This is the only solution to improving the lives of international students and all workers.

If you are not being paid $21.63 per hour contact UNITE Organiser Anthony Main on 0417368215 or 93281555.

For more information visit the UNITE website here