By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
WORKING nights and weekends is standard for nurse Zita Henderson, security guard Shane Townsend and paramedic Dave Redmond.
The trio headlined the start of a union campaign to retain penalty rates launched at Geelong Trades Hall on Tuesday afternoon.
The two week Save Our Weekend campaign will see weekend workers including nurses, paramedics, cleaners and hospitality staff door knocking homes and holding rallies and community events.
Mr Townsend said he gave up every weekend for six years running as part of his job.
He said as a single dad working weekends had a significant impact on his children.
“My son says I did a good job, but that I was never home for him to play with,” he said.
“Ironically he is now in the same industry facing the same issues.”
Mr Redmond said penalty rates made the difference between living a decent life and just existing.
“When our kids become workers, without penalty rates they could not afford a mortgage,” he said.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said penalty rates were under threat.
“Nurses, police, ambos, miners, retail and hospitality workers are among the hardworking Australians who sacrifice their weekends away from family and friends,” she said.
“They work nights and weekends and should be paid for that, but the Abbott Government is working hand in glove with business groups to cut penalty rates and lower take home pays.
“I call on the local community to get behind this local campaign to save our weekends and I call on all local Members of Parliament to guarantee their support for penalty rates.
“The truth is that cutting penalty rates has nothing to do with job creation or productivity – it is about cutting people’s pay packets.
“If you cut people’s wages, they have less money to spend in shops, pharmacies and cafes – the very businesses that are driving this attack.”
She said Geelong’s economy had already been hit hard by thousands of job losses in the manufacturing sector and cutting penalty rates would mean thousands more Geelong residents would see less money spent in local businesses and families struggling to make ends meet.
