Thursday, 15 May 2025

Retail and hospitality workers

Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:42): Rage Against the Machine once told us ‘We gotta take the power back’, and it is true – too many workers in retail and hospitality jobs are being treated like crap in this country, and they have had enough. Big companies are making huge profits off the back of their often casual, often young and often migrant background workers. Every week I hear another twisted way that staff are being mistreated in their workplaces, whether it is at Grill’d, City Chic, Domino’s, Cotton On, Chemist Warehouse, Lovisa, EB Games – the list is endless. People are being underpaid, overworked, refused breaks and forced to buy and wear company products and are on the receiving end of behaviour that nobody should have to tolerate. It is just not good enough – workers deserve better. A shout-out to the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union, who fight for these workers right across this country. Taking the power back means fighting together for workers rights. We are stronger together, and I stand with retail and hospo workers in their battles for better pay and better conditions. More strength to your arm.