SP Newsletter No.229
UNITE, the fighting union for fast food and retail workers in Victoria, has been making waves recently by taking on employers that specifically exploit young workers.

One of the cases that UNITE was involved with was when Video Dogs, a video shop in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton, offered to pay young workers with DVD hire instead of wages.

UNITE broke the story in the national media and called on the Workplace Ombudsman to investigate. After Video Dogs were ‘named and shamed’ in the press, they paid out nearly $500 to six employees who were paid with DVDs. A number of other employees who were underpaid were also reimbursed more than $4300!

On the back of the publicity from the Video Dogs case, UNITE were approached by a group of retail workers from 7-Eleven convenience stores. Many of these workers were being paid as little as $9 per hour and face appalling working conditions. Most of the staff that work in 7-Eleven stores are international students.

Again under pressure from UNITE, the Workplace Ombudsman has been forced to investigate the claims. In mid August the Ombudsman conducted a series of raids on 7-Eleven stores in the Melbourne CBD demanding they produce all of their employment records.

UNITE has claimed that a proper investigation into 7-Eleven’s employment practices would reveal that hundreds of workers have been underpaid thousands of dollars over a period of many years.

7-Eleven boasts massive profits and annual sales of $1.1 billion in Australia alone. It is now clear that a big chunk of their profits are coming from the unpaid wages of their workers. UNITE is campaigning to organise 7-Eleven workers as the best way to put an end to their dodgy behaviour.

The problem is that it seems the Workplace Ombudsman is reluctant to prosecute employers who break the law. For example, despite the fact that it was proven that Video Dogs were acting illegally, they did not face any fines or penalties.

It is common practice that if an employer co-operates with the Ombudsman, and fixes the problem quickly, they can escape penalties. In other words ignorance is a legitimate defence for dodgy bosses!

This shows the class bias of the capitalist system where ordinary people are fined for the most trivial of things but employers who steal money from workers rarely ever see the inside of a courtroom let alone a jail cell.

This means that without the threat of industrial action from the workers there is no real incentive for bosses to adhere to the law. They can just claim that they didn’t know any better and fix the problem if and when they get caught.

Young workers need to do more than just rely on the Workplace Ombudsman if they want to protect their rights at work. The best way to ensure that young workers are not ripped off is to build fighting unions. On that basis we encourage all workers to support the work of UNITE.

UNITE action against 7-Eleven in Melbourne this Friday!

The details are: 12 – 1pm Friday September 5th outside the 7-Eleven store at 263 Bourke Street City. The store is very close to the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets.

UNITE urges all of their supporters in the trade union movement to attend the action in solidarity with these struggling workers. Please bring union banners and flags on the day. For more information contact the UNITE Office on 93281555.

SP financial appeal

SP needs $20,000. Please read this important appeal and donate now!
http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/1446

Help the SP election campaign in Yarra

All Victorian Councils will go to the polls on November 29. SP will be running a strong campaign in the City of Yarra. We will be defending Stephen Jolly’s seat in the Langridge ward and we will also be standing Denise Dudley in the Melba ward and Anthony Main in the Nichols ward.

We will need help letterboxing, staffing the pre polling booths and on election day. We also need to raise money to pay for the campaign. If you can help in any way contact our National Office on 0396399111. For more information about our work in Yarra visit.
http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/council

News links

UNITE action against 7-Eleven
http://www.unite.org.au/2008/09/02/unite-action-against-7-eleven/

Interview with 7-Eleven worker
http://www.unite.org.au/2008/09/01/interview-with-7-eleven-worker/

Stop the 7-Eleven rip-off!
http://www.unite.org.au/2008/08/13/stop-the-7-eleven-rip-off/

Become a solidarity member of UNITE
http://www.unite.org.au/2008/08/27/unite-needs-your-help/

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.

We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.

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Socialist Party contact details

Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
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Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.

The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.

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