The SDA (essentially the shop workers union) has lodged a claim in the Fair Work Commission for those who turn 18 to be paid an adult wage.

http://www.moneymag.com.au/should-18-year-olds-be-paid-adult-wages

I am concerned many employers won't take on young people anymore, particularly those with little to no experience. They won't get a foot in the door and it will be difficult for them to get future work and employment.

On the other hand, young people often do the same work as other people and yet they get paid different rates. So, you could argue such a move is fair and reasonable. They do also face costs of living just like everyone else.

I'm not sure though if the full implications of the move have been taken into account by the union, including the costs on youth and on business.

I'm wondering what people think of this move by the union and if it is justified.

It's up to the FWC and the union. What anyone else thinks means diddly squat.

An idiotic situation brought on by idiots in an idiotic system.
We have a thing appropriately called an apprenticeship to learn the ropes until competent. Some are slow learners, some will never learn & a few will always be ahead of the rest. So what if someone is good at the job earlier than another, just finish your time & then you get paid. If you think you're that good that you deserve more than others go into business, as simple as that !
Do your time & be done with it. prove your merit before demanding equality.
Learn some patience & give & take. Do your time, get up to scratch then worry about equality but not before. This is the deplorable situation that was kicked off when the Goaf sold National Service for votes from the useless. Now the useless demand equality for unequal performance.

Around 86% of 18 year olds were still engaged in education in 2024.

Fewer than 4% of them who do work are in a union - the same as most workers these days.

Eighteen year olds are too immature to vote. Like everyone else, their brains are not fully formed until the age of 25. That they are allowed to vote is just another cynical piece of politics.

The union is just looking for attention: wasting its few members’ money.

There are people more worthy of attention and sympathy than texting, selfie -taking eighteen year old know-all, know-nothings.

Not necessarily Nathan J
I'm not sure whether fast food is SDA like Coles and Woolies, but I know that in some situations the kids not only get paid less, but they also work harder and faster than adults, take McDonalds as an example.

Many don't have their own cars yet, and although they get a lower wage, costs such as rent if not living at home remain the same, and because they have to do 100 hours and wait a year to get their 'Ps' they are spending significant amounts on Uber etc.

I have a friends daughter working at Maccas, she just turned 17.
I told her she should go and do DoorDash when she turns 18, she can earn $1800 a week picking groceries at Coles ad delivering them, not have any adults over her shoulder telling her what to do, and work her own hours and skip the junior wages as she's paid as a subcontractor.

WTF?

ttbn states: "Fewer than 4% of them who do work are in a union - the same as most workers these days."

If that is the case then the bleatings that we often see about poor workers and productivity must be a response to business models rather than union action.

My take is that there were less complaints about the cost of living when the workforce was more highly unionised.

ttbn also states: "Eighteen year olds are too immature to vote. Like everyone else, their brains are not fully formed until the age of 25."

Yet we often see here on OLO cries to bring back National Service.
So it seems OK to have 18 year old submit to the hazing and bullying of the army. It's OK to train them in martial competence when their brains are still developing.

Talk about indoctrination.

Australian Unions have demonstrated how things go bad when some people have it too good for too long.

WTF

Have you ever considered expressing your own opinions, not just criticising the opinions of others; or, are you apprenticed to non-stop nagger, Daysh? As I said elsewhere: change into something other than the underwear or pyjamas you sit in front of your computer all day, and get into the real world.

Your opinions on certain SUBJECTS are worth reading sometimes; but opinions of someone else’s opinions? Never!

WTF?

I didn't realise that you were such a snowflake ttbn.

If you don't want people to comment on your opinions on a site designed for people to express their opinions then a suggest you seek a safe space somewhere else.

WTF,

OK. Someone drops a topic to attract opinions/comments on that topic. Opinions are posted.

What do you hope to gain by going beyond that and taking issue with a poster whose opinion you disagree with?

Do you think that your target will change his opinion if you criticise him?

Do you want him to stop saying things you don't like?

What have you achieved by taking issue with the 'wrong' opinions - according to you?

Has anyone seen the light - again according to your beliefs - and changed their opinions?

Or, are you a Troll like your mate John Daysh, who just likes being a disagreeable arsehole?

ttbn,

If your feelings are going to be hurt when people comment on your comments then perhaps you should put forward some factual information that can can be referenced to indicate why you have a particular opinion to post.

Otherwise you might come across as a disgruntled and sad figure just shouting into the wind.

The commentator John Daysh certainly seems to be living in your head rent free.

In my day school leaving age was sixteen. I was apprenticed for 5 years.
Since then school leaving age is eighteen as to get a HSC certificate.
As HSC certificates say nothing about any qualification at all. Eighteen year old's are subject to the education system.

That being the political fact, yes 18 year old's need to be Paid full wagers from day one. The employer is obliged to train and instruct the worker who has done the right objective as stated by law to stay at school until they are eighteen. Their only qualification is possession of a HSC Certificate.

So where is the problem with that.

WTF,

l don’t intend to continue bandying words with you; but I assure you, I don’t suffer from hurt feelings, no matter what anonymous twats on the internet come up with.

Opinions do not require references, evidence or information. This facility is Online Opinion, not Online Facts. Is English not your first language?

Your inability to answer my simple questions tells me all I need to know about you.

“Living in your head rent free”, for Heaven's sake. You will never be accused of originality. What was your other attempt at insult with a passe crack? Ah, “snowflake”. You need to increase your vocabulary.

One more thing about 18 year olds. I have three 18 year old great-granddaughters who went to school longer than my grandchildren, one now in university. But, they are not as smart as their parents, their grandmother nor, dare I say, their old great-grandfather.

WTF?

Poor old ttbn.

He doesn't like it when someone comments on his posts yet demands answers to questions referencing other peoples comments.

He suggests others should increase their vocabulary in a thread where he refers to another poster as a "disagreeable arsehole". We all know what's going on here.

As Mark Twain said: "I think there is no sense in forming an opinion when there is no evidence to form it on."

This is one of those "common sense" concepts that don't require a university education to understand.

Far more important than fussing over the pay of 18 year olds who have many years ahead to improve their lot is the increasing employment of public servants, who produce nothing towards growing the economy; rather they sap it, and increase the Socialist government's spending.

. There were 82,0000 more of the blighters to the end of this financial law.
. 2.6 million of them, state and federal on the taxpayer teat.
. 3.2% growth in numbers, twice Australia’s population growth.

The average public servant gets $96,309 p.a. The average private sector worker gets $76,424 p.a.

It is predicted that another 107, 000 more snouts will be in the trough by the end of the 2026 financial year.

ttbn,
That is the real problem which also is directly facilitating willy nilly immigration.
Wait for our resident bureaudroid's scalding comments !

I'm wondering what people think of this move by the union and if it is justified
NathanJ,
Clearly the Union's self-interest at play there. If they were truly interest in workers they'd stop pay increases that make it too hard for workers to get by. Why is there still this idiotic mentality to ask for more when all it achieves is higher costs ?
Are these people totally insane ?
Now the already well paid teachers are talking about a strike because an 8% increase over three years isn't deemed enough. I'd like to suggest a salary freeze followed by salary reduction so that wages can gain more purchasing power.
Top it off with a National Service for 18-20 year olds.

Do you think a wages freeze will stop inflation rises. A lot of au,s food items are imported.
May be you are targeting the wrong end to buyable items available.
AU is subject to peoples not buying au items. So your argument is not simplistic as you say. More research is needed.
This should not come at the expense of persons hat follow govt: regulations as to when they join the workforce.

doog,
You're thinking like most who are afraid of integrity. You're forgetting the snow-balling effect that would turn things around for the better in no time at all the moment the slightest improvements appear. Freezing bureaucrat & moreso bureaudroid salaries & benefits would be such a pivoting moment for betterment.
This could be implemented in no time at all by a panel with members from all parties !
Move the unwilling performers sideways & even downwards & let natural attrition do its thing also. Win win left right & centre !
There are simply too many doing very little at huge expense.

The two anti-workers on this thread, are the pair of old blokes with their snouts firmly in the taxpayer trough. This pair failed to provide for their old age, and now criticise, workers, the young and public servants, the very people who keep them afloat financially. One who dodged national service himself, now safe in his old age, wants every young person to perform national service for his benefit.

Adult age, adult merit, not adult benefits for Woke uselessness !

Indy,

Why do you continually attack anyone whose not like you. Is it because of selfishness on your part, or just greed. You expect the taxpayer to support you, with aged welfare, for how many years now has that been the case, 20. Then you want to deny others the benefits of our rich society.
Remember, it's better to be WOKE than WANK.

Stop emoting about 18 year olds, now supposed to be adults because they are allowed to vote, probably for the Greens. They think they know everything so they should be taking care of their own problems.

If they have any problems about pay, that is. I've never seen anything about actual 18 year olds complaining about their wages. This whinge is from virtue-signalling Nathan, whom the kiddies he claims to be concerned about would think was a joke, if they knew of his existence.

Eighteen year olds are self-centered, irritating pains in the butt, mainly engrossed in rubbish on mobile phones. They won’t be of any use for at least another 7 years.

Rather than waste time on 18 year olds, most of whom don't have to support themselves financially, and are still being spoilt in their parents' homes - how about workers who do have to work in lower-paid private sector growth-producing jobs feel about paying almost $250 billion a year for public servants who produce nothing?

Public servants are essential. I spent all but 15 years of my working life as a public servant. But, there are simply too many of them now. Public sector jobs have soared at a rate much higher than those in the private sector under the Albanese socialist government. Taxes have increased to support them. They are 25% costlier per head than private sector employees who actually produce goods and grow, not blight the economy.

.You expect the taxpayer to support you, with aged welfare
Paul1405,
I expect those who, by wasting my Tax Dollars, prevent me from being able to fund my later years.
Create a system & an economy in which people can fund their own retirement & all will be good.
I had to help support your parents & now you can help support me. Cheers !

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1348781180047300

Good clip from America just as valid here if not more valid !

18 year old workers get exploited by employers calling them trainees for six months.
After six months they get laid off saying they are not suitable for us at the moment [loophole corruption]
Eighteen year old's may be living independent and trying to make ends meet only to be rejected by employers that are playing the system,
The law says 18 is the age a girl becomes a woman so yes they should be paid adult wages anything less is an open door for exploitation.

The cost of taxpayer support for young Australians is about $15 billion pa. The cost of aged welfare support tops $70 billion, and growing alarmingly, will top $100 billion shortly. Most of the young needing support today will eventually become productive, can't say that about the geriatric brigade sopping up that $70 billion, soon to become $100 billion! Agree Indy? However there is hope for the old folks still! A SENIORS NATIONAL SERVICE. A Dad's and Mum's Army of enthusiastic old slaves, sorry, I mean to say, elderly participants! Indy what are you like on the pick & shovel, it will be a new experience for you. Remember our motto "Work makes you free" or in the native lingo "Arbeit macht frei" or some such thing.

p/s Might need another 40,000 PS's on a $100 grand a year each, just to run this Natcho thing. Yep, it will see those young people in gainful employment. A win win situation. Agree Indy?

Agree Indy?
Paul1405,
Yes, old age welfare is an unsustainable drain on the coffers yet Government imports more such dependents who now outnumber the retirees who paid taxes all their working life to help cover their pension.
Reduce non-contributing immigration, reduce the numbers of the wilfully unemployable, reduce the numbers of unproductive bureaucrats, reduce the numbers of drug abusers etc etc & welfare will be affordable for the unfortunate instead of squandering it on the indisciplined.

18 year old workers get exploited by employers calling them trainees for six months.
doog,
In order to maintain employment anyone 18 or not has to pull their weight by merit & conscientiousness. An employer has so many hurdles put up by insane bureaucracy & people fail to understand that private enterprise has to compete unlike bureaucracy which as unlimited funding to pay people who produce nothing of value that can be sold for profit.
The introduction of DEI has all but killed off all enterprise & where did DEI come from ? From the ignorant useless who don't even understand what merit is.

Indy,

You said; "Yes, old age welfare is an unsustainable drain" so we agree. The $64 question is what dose government do about it? With estimates that the number of aged welfare recipients is going to double over the next 25 years, it certainly is unsustainable. Politically old folks are a "protected species", no one wants to see dear old granny out on the street begging for a crust. But we have to consider what the present la largesse towards the 'protected species" is costing society. We have the absurd situation of people living on the streets due to a housing shortage, whilst some old aged pensioners are living alone in 3 bedroom plus homes, and being massively subsidised by the taxpayer at the same time. A fairer and better system of support for the aged welfare folks is needed, and needed quickly.

Paul1405,
Another example why people with your mentality should not become public servants.
Comment again when you grasp the difference between old age pension & welfare.
Australia's working & middle class birthrate is steadily declining according to some who are supposedly in the know. These two classes rely on the pension & they contribute ample to it.
The welfare exploiting who don't work on purpose & the unemployable old family reunion migrants who don't enter the workforce are actually the ones draining welfare. They're the ones you appear to favour as recipients of benefits & very likely instruct on how to find & exploit loopholes for every kind of funding available to them but not blue collar workers.
I have said to you before, provide the conditions for people to comply so they can avoid to be dependent on welfare. Stop blaming people for your faults !

Paul1405,
Sorry about asking you questions you're unable to answer sensibly !