Wage theft is at crisis levels – including in businesses operating at the ANU. 77% of young workers employed by ANU-based businesses have had wages stolen in the last year.
This epidemic of wage theft includes not paying the minimum legal hourly rate, not paying superannuation or shift penalties, not paying for all hours worked and paying cash in hand illegally and other forms of exploitation.
The Young Workers Centre at UnionsACT recently conducted a survey of young workers employed by businesses at the ANU and we uncovered rampant wage theft, bullying and harassment and threats and punishment of young workers who questioned their pay or rights. Young workers are insecurely employed, risking losing shifts if they speak up.
Read our Report: Crisis:Wage-theft at ANU: Student Experiences of Wage-theft on Acton Campus.
“I was pushed to leave my job here because I spoke up against the lack of consistency with pay. I had co-workers who were left with less than a dollar in their bank accounts because pays were consistently late. The boss’s reaction to my comments was to victimise themselves, accusing us for attacking and bombarding them with question. I have been patient and exhausted all polite means of raising such issues. Each time, my concerns were dismissed and not taken seriously. It reached a point where I needed to take a stronger stance against the issue.” Cafe worker, 21 y.o.
ANU currently benefits from commercial arrangements with businesses which are exploiting young workers. More than 80% are current students or recent graduates.
The ANU must take urgent action to stamp out wage theft by businesses operating on campus. Help us to make ANU wage-theft free, sign the petition: www.youngworkerscbr.org.au/wage-theft-free-anu
