Belly, I fully understand annualization of wages. It was part of the 'no disadvantage test' and I thought it was working.

So, let's move on.

How are the moods of your members?

Do they feel sucure in thier jobs?

Do you represent anyone within retail or hospitality, if so, have any of them lost hours on a sunday that they had prior to the IR changes?

Just answers would be fine, no need to try to further discredit me personally thanks!

Dear Belly,

Nice to know that you are willing to go out of your way to do good for others. I am glad that common-sense prevails, but please be careful because common-sense does not guarantee that you won't find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

The employer which you met yesterday is very lucky to have had you as the union-representative. He could have met a real nasty instead, a "rat-bag" as you say, and by law he would have no right to refuse to see that nasty rat-bag.

I just found this interesting political-quiz and am curious where you would fit on it: http://ldp.org.au/quiz

Belly, I to have a great deal of respect for you and I agree that you are the type of unionist every boss would love to deal with, however, the real world isn't like that.

We as employers have no say as to who may walk through the door as a union rep and, the next one may interprite the laws differently.

Just trying to lodge a simple plan at the local council can often result in differing opinions from differnet staff.

But my beef is about sunday rates in the food service industry. I respect that public holidays should attract a loading, but not weekends as like it or not, we are a seven day society.

BTW it is illigal for any business to charge a surcharge on a sunday or public holiday.

Also, bacon and eggs costs the same on a weekday as a sunday (promotions excluded).Yet, the cost of producing them is higher on a sunday.

This is my beef.

Good hard game on sunday. I think your saints may have turned the wrong corner old mate. Go the broncs!

Broncos V roosters for mine!

It is a big country rechtub I am nearly sure premiums are paid in NSW Saints by 5 this weekend but only a mad man would discount the broncos or roosters.
Now my view of an annual salary is far from yours.
Start on the day you hire some one.
Question do you wish to work over time.
If answer is no set a standard rate of pay add penalty rates if you must have them work some times.
If the answer is yes ok then calculate how many hours YOU think they will work over time, agree to that as a mimum to be worked.
Set in place a wage that they will earn if they do, an hourly rate ALL HOURS WORKED that both sides agree to that compensates for the extra hours.
If you did it well, if your sums add up both sides should be happy.
Now you could have two wages structures no extra time and overtime.
BUT I would want a reward for Mr/Mrs work over time once they get to a contracted amount of overtime, usually quite a lot say half weekends and 10 hour days.
I Have seen this work this way, after some hundreds of hours at this new rate extra overtime is paid as leave extra holidays.
If you truly look at it you know what you have to pay at the start of the year and it is maybe less than you do now.
one day this system refined will be the way we work.
Currently weekend work is an area infected with fraud welfare people getting cash in hand an pledged to silence bu bosses who even demand proof they are getting welfare so they can not ask for fair wages.

Unions well give me room I have always been a member of mine.
Yes a few rabbits have been around all those years and a few who have all the movement and grace of a concrete statue, a bad one.
But anchored in a past long gone are some very silly thugs and grubs, not in my mob.
That is the place I get the most threats from.
I have seen while on a combined site an idiot threaten to rape the manager of a shonky firm.
Watched workers being briefed to fail to hook up a load so it would fall while that bloke was around.
REALITY the future belongs to unions that can talk issues out.
And a boss that can see his/her workers are humans are the very force that makes his/her living.
One day after I stop work I Wil tell of bosses who every one who ever posted here would despise.
If government changes this month I too may be disliked because never ever will I change my view SOME regard workers as some thing to use to create wealth,conservatives who never had dirt on their hands forget we Australians who work are the first in the trenches in time of war.

rechtub

Arguing (special pleading) by anecdotal evidence is very dubious.
e.g. My 25yo uni student recently moved to Townsville and was offer 3 (wait staff) jobs 2 at restaurants 1 with a club, all with immediate start.

The club she left is always starting new staff and tried to talk her out of leaving. She often got 30 + hrs limited by her availability.

I am hearing that the businesses that are having issues are those that rely on juniors. i.e. their business models are designed that way.
The one's I hear have the biggest issues are the franchise coffee shops type deals. Often the management skills are wanting.

For that reason alone I would never take on a business model that requires this level of vulnerability and lacking flexibility.

By the way, under capitalist/evolutionary theory no one has the right to remain in business....survival of the most adaptable.
Once upon a time there were mum and dad corner stores everywhere then came supermarkets...good night corner stores. Demand drives it all Sad but that is system. Bitching over govt regs in this capitalist system is futile.

Capitalist common sense dictates that if left uncontrolled Big Business WILL take over all retail and the workers will be squeezed.