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Staff car parks generate close to quarter million for Westfield

Staff parking at Westfield Chermside has generated close to a quarter of a million dollars in just three months.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) Queensland Secretary Chris Ketter said the shopping centre giant had made close to $250,000 from employees since paid parking began on October 24.

“Since October 24 Westfield has gouged shopping centre staff for around a quarter of a million dollars,’’ Mr Ketter said.
 
“That’s money paid to a multinational for the privilege of going to work.’’

He said in August 2011 the Westfield group announced a first-half profit of $651 million. It’s estimated paid parking for shoppers could have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars since the initiative began. Mr Ketter called on Westfield to provide a figure on how much staff and customers had paid since October 24.

“Westfield is rolling in it while the majority of Queenslanders are doing it tough,’’ Mr Ketter said.

“However Westfield continue to make millions from staff and shoppers and the dangerous trend continues.

“It’s high time Westfield came clean on just how much they have made – and how much they expect to make – from their workers and the community per annum.

“In March paid parking will be rolled out at Carindale shopping centre and we fear the cancer could continue to spread throughout south east Queensland.’’

Westfield Carindale is believed to have 5500 car parks. It’s feared paid parking will also be introduced at Westfield centres at Mt Gravatt (Garden City), Strathpine, North Lakes and Helensvale on the Gold Coast.

The centres reportedly have a combined total of around 13,000 car parks. Westfield has introduced paid parking at 14 shopping centres around the world.

Go to: http://www.sdaq.asn.au/member-news/petition-against-paid-car-parking/ to sign the SDA petition.

The Agreement is to be lodged with Fair Work Australia today.

Thank you to all members who participated in the roll out including the ballot.

You can see this edition of the SDA News using Flip-Page viewing software.  Click here to open the newsletter.

For customers with a $300,000 loan, this means a saving of $50 per month. Coupled with ME’s rate cut in November, SDA members are saving real money by banking with ME bank.

All SDA members are eligible to bank with ME bank. 

For further information please log on to  www.mebank.com.au

This legislation is not a ‘one-off’ as it is a permanent change.

Previously retail employees who worked on weekend public holidays during the festive season did not receive public holiday penalty rates. This saw members forced to work retail events, such as the Boxing Day sales, without sufficient financial compensation.

SDA Branch Secretary, Chris Ketter, said “hard working members who have to leave their friends and families at Christmas deserve penalty rates not punishment’’.

 “I applaud Premier Bligh’s decision to protect the rights of Queensland SDA members whose efforts often go unrecognised”. 

Shop Stewards and Delegates will receive their company specific public holiday bulletins shortly.

Members are advised to contact their Shop Steward or Delegate for further information.

This is wonderful news for members because without these changes, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day would have been normal working days which members could have been required to work and be paid Sunday rates.

Also, the government has announced that Queen’s Birthday will now be observed in October, and for 2012 only, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be observed on June 11. 

The government was overwhelmed by the community participation in their consultation process and Chris Ketter, SDA Branch Secretary said, “Thank you to the thousands of SDA members who participated in the on-line survey. Your efforts were well rewarded”.

Members will be advised when the appropriate legislation is passed through the Queensland parliament.