Asren Pugh, Bangalow
The decision by Fair Work Australia to slash Sunday weekend rates is a devastating blow to the North Coast community. It will cut the wages of some of the lowest paid workers by up to $6000 per year. People on Award wages usually spend their entire wage, with little left over to save. This means there is $6000 per year that will no longer be spent in our region and at our local small businesses.
With wages already stagnating, at the lowest rate of growth in decades, and housing costs skyrocketing, this is just another blow to local families trying to make ends meet. Penalty rates on weekends was just one small way that some of the money spent by tourists in our area would actually flow through to real local people. Now even that will be cut.
The vast benefit of these cuts will flow through to the profits of the big supermarkets, Woolworths and Coles, and the multinational fast food joints around the place. It is time for politicians and businesses to stand up and say no to the race to the bottom. Already businesses like Lush have said they will be maintaining their staff wages on the old rates. Which of our local businesses will support local people and do the same?
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
