SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas says the major concern for retailers are exorbitant rents not paying retail workers decent rates of pay.
“It is absolutely outrageous that fat cat land lords are quoted in The Advertiser today pushing for cuts to the wages of retail workers when since the GFC retail rents have continue to rise year on year.
“These multi millionaire property developers are calling for wages to be reduced when at the very same time they are passing on rent increases to small businesses.
“If these property developers want to provide relief for small business they should be lowering their rents not calling for the slashing of wages for workers.
“Why is it acceptable for them to increase rents for retail businesses but it’s unreasonable to pay retail workers a decent wage?
Peter Malinauskas says the SDA welcomes a discussion about genuine negotiation to reduce penalty rates in exchange for other benefits.
“We want to get the balance right between capital and labour but we will not stand by while retail workers have their wages cut without a fair negotiation,” he said.