100 signatures reached
To: McDonald's Australia
Abolish Discriminatory Youth Rates at McDonald's
Over 80% of workers at McDonald's earn some form of youth rate - a rate much less than the full wage. That's over 80 000 workers in Australia. More than 50% of McDonald's workers are 17 or younger and over 20% are 15 or younger.
The median wage is just $12.97 per hour. Over 20 000 workers earn just $8.64 per hour (as a non-casual rate.)
We want McDonald's to abolish youth rates and pay all workers the same wage for the same work. It's that simple. McDonald's have told us they will not pay workers equally unless they are forced to.
The median wage is just $12.97 per hour. Over 20 000 workers earn just $8.64 per hour (as a non-casual rate.)
We want McDonald's to abolish youth rates and pay all workers the same wage for the same work. It's that simple. McDonald's have told us they will not pay workers equally unless they are forced to.
Why is this important?
All workers should be paid a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. It should not be based on age, gender, sexuality, colour or creed. This is about respecting all workers - no matter their age.
Archaic age based wage discrimination was set to be abolished 20 years ago but politicans from the major parties kept them in place. Can you imagine workers who are 55 or older being paid less to "encourage employment"? It is a joke.
This is about mega companies - multinationals - profiteering off the back of low paid workers.
In the US, workers are battling McDonald's in the "Fight for $15" campaign but the median wage in Australia, $12.97, is just $9.25 USD. Over 20 000 McDonald's Australia workers earn just $6.16 USD per hour - much less than the American minimum wage.
It can be done. In New Zealand the Unite Union took on McDonald's and won historic outcomes including abolition of youth rates. Now all NZ McDonald's workers get paid the same rate no matter their age. This was achieved because young workers joined their fighting union and campaigned for a fairer wage.
This is important for everyone not just because we all are, know or were a young worker. When massive corporations can pay one group of workers less than other workers it undermines the wages for everyone. How much harder is it to fight for better wages when a 21 year old worker can be replaced for the same wage as 2 sixteen year old workers?
A fair wage for all starts with abolishing unfair wage discrimination.
Archaic age based wage discrimination was set to be abolished 20 years ago but politicans from the major parties kept them in place. Can you imagine workers who are 55 or older being paid less to "encourage employment"? It is a joke.
This is about mega companies - multinationals - profiteering off the back of low paid workers.
In the US, workers are battling McDonald's in the "Fight for $15" campaign but the median wage in Australia, $12.97, is just $9.25 USD. Over 20 000 McDonald's Australia workers earn just $6.16 USD per hour - much less than the American minimum wage.
It can be done. In New Zealand the Unite Union took on McDonald's and won historic outcomes including abolition of youth rates. Now all NZ McDonald's workers get paid the same rate no matter their age. This was achieved because young workers joined their fighting union and campaigned for a fairer wage.
This is important for everyone not just because we all are, know or were a young worker. When massive corporations can pay one group of workers less than other workers it undermines the wages for everyone. How much harder is it to fight for better wages when a 21 year old worker can be replaced for the same wage as 2 sixteen year old workers?
A fair wage for all starts with abolishing unfair wage discrimination.