A battle over penalty rates has some pharmacists in Australia taking industrial action for the first time.
Pharmacists employed at National Pharmacies outlets across Victoria and South Australia say they are imposing work bans from December 24.
Their industrial action comes as debate intensifies over a Productivity Commission proposal to reduce Sunday penalty rates for workers in hospitality, retail and entertainment jobs.
Greg Dyett reports.
A $10,000 a year pay cut for pharmacists with National Pharmacies is what their union says will be the cost if the company gets its way in talks on a new workplace agreement.
The union, Professional Pharmacists Australia, says National Pharmacies wants to reduce penalty rates, including for Sunday shifts.
Under the existing agreement, an eight hour Sunday shift would pay a pharmacist about $570.
The union says its members would receive $450 for the same shift under the National Pharmacies proposal, a cut of $120.
Professional Pharmacists Australia's Matt Harris says members currently receive penalty rates above the award.
"The members at National Pharmacies are currently on a workplace agreement which has penalty rates which are a variation on the award, and so National Pharmacies' position is to bring them into line with the award, which would mean a pay cut of up to $10,000 for employee pharmacists at National Pharmacies."
National Pharmacies says it wants to align penalty rates with the prevailing industry award, not below the award, which includes maintaining a 100 per cent Sunday penalty.
Someone who believes there is a case for cutting Sunday wage rates is ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja.
He has told the ABC there is a strong case for reducing penalty rates for workers in the hospitality industry.
"Just somewhat reduce penalty rates on Sundays, I think that would be sensible. I think, for a long time, people have seen a sort of seven day a week economy, yet our laws haven't always kept pace with that. Now, I understand that, in many industries, it won't be appropriate because they are 9 to 5, Monday to Friday sort of industries. Or in the case of emergency services workers and nurses and other areas, I think that's a different scenario. But in the hospitality industry, in particular, that's where I hear the most from business owners, that's where I think the reforms should be occurring. And I think that's the sort of thing that we could develop a policy to take to an election."
Senator Seselja's comments come one day after Employment Minister Michaelia Cash insisted penalty rates are a matter for the Fair Work Commission, not the government.
ACT Labor senator Katy Gallagher has told the ABC it is clear others in the Coalition share Senator Seselja's views.
"Penalty rates are there for a reason. They're there to compensate people who have to work out of hours and, particularly in relation to the Productivity Commission's review, very low income workers who are already struggling to make ends meet and penalty rates can mean the difference between actually being able to afford things and not being able to afford them. So, you know, it's no surprise, I think, that we've got Zed Seselja out on the front foot arguing for them today, but it's certainly not something that Labor agrees with."
Senator Seselja says his Coalition colleagues should not avoid industrial relations reform.
"I don't think we should always be spooked by the fact that we had a WorkChoices election in 2007. We're talking about a whole different set of policies, I think a more incremental approach to change. I think you bring the community with you. But, of course, it does take some courage to put these things to the people."
