LOCAL Country Labor and Greens candidates pledged to fight the deregulation of trading hours and removal of penalty rates for weekend workers at a union gathering at Sails Resort on Wednesday.
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Kristy Quill and Drusi Megget both agreed with Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) delegates that penalty rates and work/life balance are key issues for workers in the Hastings.
SDA secretary Bernie Smith argued that members need to "send a clear message to government at the state election that time with our family matters, and if we have to give up that time, we should be paid appropriately".
"The Hastings electorate has a large proportion of workers in the retail and fast food industries," he said. "Removing penalty rates and forcing workers to work on Boxing Day will hit them hard.
"This is a key issue for the workers of Port Macquarie and before we go to the polls we want to know that the person we're electing is serious about standing up for our rights."
Mrs Quill and Mrs Megget pledged to support the union by acting to oppose any moves to: "reduce the number of protected (restricted) trading days; remove NSW retail workers' right to refuse to work on public holidays in exempted areas where trading on public holidays is allowed and; reduce penalty rates for work at unsociable times".
If penalty rates were fully abolished, Mr Smith said the Lyne electorate's local economy would lose a projected $7.1 millin per annum.
With a background in hospitality, Mrs Quill said she "knows what a sacrifice it is to work public holidays" and would "fully oppose the change of trading days".
"A large percentage of workers in Port Macquarie rely on penalty rates.
"It's part of Labor's DNA to protect workers' rights," she vowed.
Mr Megget said he wasn't satisfied with "industry fat cats' reasoning" behind changes to penalty rates.
"Spending time with, and looking after families, is the bedrock of the local community," she said.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams was not able to address the meeting, and sent her apologies.
The Fair Work Commission's (FWC) review of Sunday and public holiday penalty rates is expected to continue until mid-year.
Industry groups such as the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Restaurant and Catering Australia (R&CA) are pushing for cuts to wages that compensate staff working outside normal days and hours.
"We understand there's a reason for penalty rates, but we believe double time on a Sunday is too great," ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman argues.
"Without a shadow of a doubt, many retailers just can't afford to open."
The ARA represents is calling for Sundays to be paid at a 50 per cent increase, rather than 100 per cent.
This would mean a worker from any state paid $22 within normal hours would earn $33 on Sundays, rather than the current $44.
nicole.langdon@fairfaxmedia.com.au