Union threatens FWC penalty rates decision against govt

THE union movement is threatening to use a decision of the independent Fair Work Commission on penalty rates against the Government in this year's election campaign.

"Penalty rates quite likely will be a central issue in this election campaign," Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) told AM.

Today the FWC will hear final submissions in a long-running case brought by employer groups arguing for double-time Sunday penalty rates to be reduced to time-and-a-half Saturday rates.

A decision is expected in around early June, a month out from a potential July 2 election date.

"This will be a very important decision for 2 million people who perform work in the retail and hospitality industry," Mr Dwyer said.

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