The unions have imposed a legal requirement that ordinary fruit pickersbe paid at least $ 25 an hour, eliminating farmers from paying $ 3 an hour under pricing arrangements.
The Australian Workers’ Union on Tuesday afternoon filed an application with the industry’s trade umpire, the Fair Work Commission, to change the Horticulture Award to add a provision of the minimum wage to the workers.
Ongoing Exploitation
The Horticulture Award currently allows farmers to pay workers less, depending on the fruit they choose, or the average hour.
A series of questions and reports revealed exposure to the fruit harvesting industry, which operates mainly by overseas workers including Pacific Islanders and backpacks.
Last week, a report by the McKell Institute, submitted by the AWU, found that some berry pickers were paid as much as $ 3 an hour, and allegations of salary theft by employers’ unions now dominate the industry.
Walton said the industry was rife with problems including physical violence, harassment and passports being snatched and confiscated from overseas workers.
“It has become the backbone of exploitation in this country,” he said.
He said the low wage would allow farmers to snatch workers by lowering the piece rate where the work was easier – something he had seen during a visit to the berry farm.
“In some areas of the field some berries were much larger than others,” he said.
“If you got a bountiful strip they’d doctor the rate.
The Amendment Demanded
“If the industry is so focused on having piece rates in place, that’s completely fine. But don’t use piece rates as a way of undercutting what is already the lowest award rate in the country.”
Under the proposed AWU amendment, employers will still be allowed to pay piece rates.
However, they will be required to pay the current minimum hourly rate of price – similar to the minimum wage – no matter how small the fruits are selected.
Normally – most fruit harvesters – that would be $ 24.80 per hour. Full-time employees will be required to be paid $ 19.84 per hour.
“Employment rates are set at levels that do not allow a skilled worker to earn a minimum hourly rate,” AWU said in an introduction to FWC.
Walton said fruit growers relied on foreign workers organized by hiring companies.
The AWU last tried to change the award to set lower standards in 2009, but was defeated by employers.
The chief executive of the National Farmers Federation, Tony Mahar, said the organization would “keep comment until we see the details of the AWU proposal”.
“However it should be emphasized that if used properly, piece rates reward productivity and no changes in the prize can be allowed to reduce that position,” he said.
