Unions Upping the Ante Over Youth Rates and Minimum Wages

Restaurant Brands' decision to follow BP Oil's lead and phase out youth rates should be a sign of things to come, says the Council of Trade Unions.Coinciding with the annual lift in the minimum wage, the union movement will tomorrow launch its 2006 wages campaign focusing on lifting low wages and scrapping youth rates. The campaign will happen worksite by worksite, in tandem with a political campaign in support of the Sue Bradford Private Members Bill to end youth rates for 16 and 17 year olds.

"It took workers to stand together in unions to get rid of youth rates at BP and Restaurant Brands," said Ross Wilson, CTU President. "More needs to be done, and we are organising workers to get involved in their union's campaign to end youth rates."

"Employers should play their part too and follow BP Oil and Restaurant Brand's lead and end youth rates before the law requires them to," said Ross Wilson.

"Unions also want a $12 minimum wage now, not in 2008, and are calling on the government to introduce a $12 minimum wage sooner rather than later."