Young defender of basic working rights in the hospitality industry, Kahlani Pyrah, found out today that she will be reinstated as an employee of Grill’d – the ‘ethical’, ‘community-conscious’ company that (until recently) paid their workers less than minimum wage and no penalty rates.
“Well that’s gonna be a bloody awkward workplace to go back to,” said many a commenter on the Internet. “Nay!” cried the editor, “Please read the article before commenting, dipshit!”
She won’t actually be working shifts at the Grill’d restaurant in Camberwell. Pyrah has been reinstated as an employee of Grill’d, but has been put straight on unpaid leave. This was at the request of the Judge Phillip Burchardt today, during an inquest into this recent ‘Grill’d not paying its workers enough money’ debacle.
The only reason she has been reinstated as a worker on unpaid leave, in case you’re confused, is so she can legally take Grill’d to the bank Fair Work Commission. Employees are the only people who can – former employees cannot (which is a bit fucked, isn’t it?). Lawyers for hospo union United Voice were worried that her dismissal from the burger chain might mean that the case could not go ahead; with the injunction, there’s now no doubt it will be able to.
While Grill’d are trying their absolute hardest to look supportive and above-board with this whole pesky ‘minimum wage’ thingamajig, they have also employed the party line that Kahlani allegedly ‘bullied’ senior staff members, and that’s why she was fired. She allegedly said to a manager, “Who do you think you are talking to me like that? Who do you think you are talking to me like that in front of my peers? What’s your problem? I don’t have to get your permission to take a break.”
She has said that this story was concocted by management as an excuse to fire her.
IMHO, go hell for burger on ’em, Kahlani! Hit ’em right in the Herby Mayo! (And while you’re at it, ask them why the fuck it’s on everything.)
via The Age
Image: Coworker.org
