Stores in pay audits

Andrew Mathieson
OMBUDSMAN’S audits are set to find that Geelong’s four 7-Eleven stores have underpaid workers, according to their union.
The audits followed a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation into the company’s Moorabool Street store over complaints employees were paid as little as $5 an hour.
Shop assistants union Unite accused the store’s owners of refusing to pay back more than $100,000 in unpaid wages.
He has since sold the Moorabool Street store during an initial Fair Work Ombudsman’s audit.
Unite secretary Anthony Main said talks with existing and former staff had left him “convinced” the three other 7-Eleven stores also owed money.
“We’re expecting that an audit of these stores is bound to throw up some issues of back pay.”
Mr Main said the stores had failed to keep supply accurate pay records.
“It’s making our job very difficult but we have shown evidence to the Fair Work Ombudsman, which has accepted that it’s a bit of a disaster zone,” he said.
Mr Chan said the former Moorabool Street store owner had interests in 7-Elevens in Geelong and Victoria.
Mr Main said the Fair Work Ombudsman would be a “toothless tiger” if the wages’ watchdog was unable to secure workers back-pay.
The Fair Work Ombudsman said investigations into the Moorabool Street store were continuing and refused further comment.
7-Eleven national franchising manager Geraldine Dzielakowski said head office would not comment on the Geelong stores during the audits.
However, she defended the right of the former Moorabool Street store owner to profit from the sale of the franchise.
“He is able to sell their store just like anyone else,” she said.