SDA wins against another attack on Broken Hill district allowance

 

Today the full Federal Court of Australia rejected another attempt by employer lobby groups to remove the Broken Hill district allowance, which would have cut the wages of award-based Broken Hill workers.

SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas says this is a great outcome for Broken Hill workers covered by the Award, who will continue to receive the 4.28% allowance on top of the Award rate of pay.

“Employer lobby groups have yet again failed to cut the wages of workers in Broken Hill.

“I am very pleased the SDA and the ACTU were successful in our case to keep the allowance.

“If the allowance had been removed many Broken Hill workers would have had their take-home pay cut.

“This is an important and long-standing industrial tradition that recognises the remoteness of Broken Hill,” said Peter.

The decision means retail, fast-food, pharmacy and hair and beauty workers covered by the Award in Broken Hill will continue to receive the allowance.

Employer lobby groups opposed maintaining the Broken Hill district allowance on legal grounds but the Federal Court ruled in favour of keeping the allowance.

In February this year the SDA and the ACTU also won a case in the Fair Work Commission to keep the allowance in Modern Awards.

Peter says employer lobby groups should now stop their attacks on the wages of Broken Hill workers.

“Not once but twice, employer lobby groups have tried to remove this allowance which would leave workers financially worse off.

“The full Federal Court of Australia has now agreed with us and has recognised the importance of keeping this allowance,” said Peter.

If you have any questions about the Broken Hill district allowance, please call the SDA on 8139 1000.