Alison Dellit, Sydney
“I responded to my experience at Pizza Hut by becoming more radical. But many workers don’t, they simply give up”, Andrea told me. A former union delegate at the chain restaurant/takeaway store, she had become enraged at the working conditions and ridiculously low pay that workers face in the industry.
She explained how, after most workers at workplace meetings indicated that they thought the deal being discussed was bad, the union signed it anyway.
“Now, young workers are working for an even lower percentage of the adult wage”, she explained, pointing out that the message to our youth is they are not worth much in the workplace.
This is a message that some are trying to counter. Andrea was one of about 20 activists who staged a speak-out outside the prominent McDonald’s store at Circular Quay on September 16. Organised by Resistance, the speak-out was part of a campaign being run by the socialist youth organisation to draw attention to the atrocious conditions faced by young workers.
“With the government’s push for AWAs [Australian Workplace Agreements — individual non-union contracts], young workers will be even worse off”, Resistance member Simon Cunich explained at the speak-out. “When you’re 15, 16 or 17 and in your first job, it’s hard to ‘negotiate’ on an equal basis with a boss whose a big multinational.”
Resistance’s campaign has included distributing a new “no AWAs” leaflet aimed at fast-food workers. Activists have been visiting work-sites such as Bakers’ Delight, KFC, McDonald’s, Gloria Jeans and others, distributing the leaflets and talking to young workers about their rights and the attacks they are facing.
“We’ve had a great response”, Resistance organiser Katie Cherrington said. “It’s not like we have to convince young workers they’re being ripped off. It’s just what they can do about it. Many have thanked us, and talked about what they can do. Some gave us free stuff!”
To find out how you can help the campaign in Sydney, email <sydney@resistance.org.au>, or phone Katie or Chris on (02) 9690 1977.
From Green Left Weekly, September 28, 2005.
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