Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has joined 14 rebel Newcastle and Hunter clubs in a national fight against proposed weekend rate cuts for 1500 clubs staff in the Newcastle region.
"I stand with our local clubs workers who do not deserve to have their penalty rates cut," the Lord Mayor said.
"I call on all our local clubs across the region to reflect on the right thing to do in this situation, and actively join the ‘good clubs’ national campaign."
The clubs bosses group, Clubs Australia, is fighting in the Fair Work Commission to cut the weekend rates of more than 42,000 Clubs workers across Australia, leaving them $100 a week worse off.
In a widespread rebellion, Club Macquarie, Newcastle Leagues Club and Cardiff Bowlo are among 14 Newcastle and Hunter clubs who have joined more than 150 other clubs across Australia in publicly rejecting Clubs Australia’s continued attack on weekend rates.
United Voice National Secretary Jo-Anne Schofield said the split within the clubs sector exposed Clubs Australia as isolated and out-of-touch from the wishes of its own members.
"It’s quite telling that Clubs Australia, the supposed peak body of clubs, could only put forward one club in the Fair Work Commission in the July hearings that actually supported cutting penalty rates," she said.
"We congratulate all of the clubs in the Hunter, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie who are putting their community values first by standing with their staff."
In recognition of good clubs supporting their workers against penalty rates, United Voice, the union for clubs workers, has launched an interactive tool: http://www.saveourweekend.org.au/goodclubs.
The Good Clubs Guide gives a "good club" badge to clubs that have publicly supported their staff and opposed Clubs Australia.
The tool also gives patrons the opportunity to request a "good clubs check-up", to see whether their club is willing to join the fight against unfair and unaffordable weekend rate cuts for their workers.
Members of the public have so far asked the union to check with another 600 local clubs on where the club stands in relation to Clubs Australia’s attack on weekend rates.
Clubs including Belmont 16 Footers, Kurri Kurri Bowling Club and Wallsend Diggers are among those being asked whether they are prepared to support their workers. These clubs have so far not made clear their position.
The next hearings on the matter are scheduled to begin in the Fair Work Commission on 29 October 2018.
Individual clubs from all over Australia still have the chance to obtain "Good Clubs" recognition by writing to the Fair Work Commission and stating their opposition to the abolition of the Clubs Award, which would lead to clubs workers facing a 25 percentage point reduction in Saturday and Sunday rates.
Cardiff Bowling Club
Club Macquarie
Denman RSL
Dora Creek Workers Club
Fingal Bay Bowls, Sports & Recreation Club
Kotara Bowling Club
Newcastle Leagues Club
Rathmines Bowling Club
Singleton Diggers
Teralba Bowling Club
Toronto District Workers Club
Wangi Wangi RSL
West Wallsend Workers Club
Weston District Workers Club
Windale - Gateshead Bowling Club
