BY GRANT COLEMAN
PERTH — On December 12, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU), Australian Hotels Association (AHA), and the Chamber and Commerce Industry (CCI) finalised a deal to increase WA hospitality pay rates to the level of rates paid in other states. However, the deal does not include McDonald's casual workers. The award covers all other restaurants, hotels, motels, licensed clubs.
The deal was unopposed in the Industrial Relations Commission until McDonald's announced its opposition to the new casual penalty rate structure and said it would oppose the deal across the hospitality industry. The agreement would have forced McDonald's to lift casual pay rates across the board.
Instead of challenging McDonald's refusal to accept the agreement, the LHMU agreed to exempt McDonald's workers from the deal. McDonald's workers will have to rely on the tame-cat Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association to negotiate with their employer. The SDA covers McDonald's workers in every state except WA.