Young Workers Strike as Youth Rates Bill Debated

Embargoed Press Release: Unite Union/SuperSizeMyPay.Com
Wednesday, 21 February 2006

Young Workers Strike as Youth Rates Bill Debated

KFC Henderson will be taking industrial action in support of their pay claim to abolish youth rates, today at 3.30pm, Lincoln Rd.

Unite Union organisers will be meeting KFC workers Ramit Kumar, 16, who earns $8.08 an hour and Colin Fulton, 15, who earns $7.13 an hour, with school friends at Massey High School at 3.10pm. (At the 1st gate before the main school entrance on Don Buck Rd.)

Unite will then join the young workers as they walk to work and take their store out on strike as a part of the SuperSizeMyPay.Com month of industrial action.

SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign co-ordinator, Simon Oosterman, said that the Unite led campaign supports Sue Bradfords Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to remove youth rates, which will be debated in Parliament for the first time today.

“We support Sue Bradford’s Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to remove youth rates. However we have no illusions that the government is guaranteed to support what is right,” said Mr Oosterman.

“Companies like McDonalds, Burger King and Restaurant Brands can’t be excused for discriminating against youth workers in the absence of just and fair laws.

“It is clear that it is only by low paid workers taking industrial action with the active support of the public that the end of youth rates can be guaranteed.

“Removing youth rates is an issue of equality, but to be just companies must also pay $12 an hour now and secure worker’s hours,” he concluded.

ENDS

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