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Shame file
Push to undercut legal minimum wageMajor employers in the real estate industry are pushing to introduce a commission-only wages system that could result in agency salespeople being paid less than the minimum legal wage, the ACTU reports. An ACTU media release dated May 3 reports employers want the Federal Government's new pay commission to exempt them from requirements under the Federal Government's new industrial relations laws to pay the minimum wage which for NSW real estate agents is $546.44 a week, and replace them with piece rates.In a submission to the pay commission's review of minimum wages in the real estate sector, the ACTU argues that commission-only payments are inherently unfair for employees and that wages need to be underpinned by a decent minimum rate of pay. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said: "A piece-rate system would disadvantage young salespeople seeking to get a foothold in the industry as well as agents working in regional and country areas or where property prices and turnover is low. There are a number of variables outside the control of an agent that would seriously affect his or her capacity to earn a decent income, including: access to properties granted by the employer; the number of other agents with access to the same properties; the state of the overall property market and the value of the properties in the local area." "This new move by employers to avoid paying the legal minimum wage is another attempt to transfer all the business risk onto employees and should be rejected," Ms Burrow said.
Sacking thwarts ballot orderTwelve workers at a Port Botany chemical and petroleum product terminal have been sacked due to "operational reasons".A National Union of Workers media release (April 27) stated the Vopak Terminal Sydney workers were seeking a union collective agreement, but Vopak had challenged the workers' right to enter into a bargaining period. On April 20 Australian Industrial Relations Commission Commissioner Hamberger gave an order that a ballot be held on the matter. However, on April 26 the terminal operators, who are all union members, were told their services were no longer be required and that they would be replaced by labour hire casual workers.
WA trial date setA Federal Court trial date has been set for the 107 Perth to Mandurah railway construction workers facing fines of up to $28,600 each.The workers are charged with allegedly breaching the Workplace Relations Act and taking "unlawful industrial action". The Australian Building and Construction Commissioner initiated the legal action. CFMEU Western Australia industrial officer Timothy Kucera said the matters have been listed for trial on October 29, with the hearing expected to take three to four weeks.
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