Long service leave campaign for casuals

On Saturday September 14, Victorian unions launched a campaign for 
recognition of long service by casual workers at major sporting venues. The 
launch was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The Victorian Trades Hall Council, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance 
and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU) are 
calling on the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), operators of the MCG and 
Spotless Catering, suppliers of food and beverage services to the Ground, 
to acknowledge the many years of dedicated service of their casual events 
staff and grant them long service leave.

"Both Unions have members who have worked at the MCG for over 15 years 
every week during the football season and at the cricket", said Trades Hall 
Secretary Leigh Hubbard

"It is our position that the Victorian Long Service Leave (LSL) Act does 
not exclude casuals and in fact a number of other similar venues in 
Melbourne have passed on long service leave to their casuals."

The Alliance has recently lodged a claim for long service leave to MCC on 
behalf of 15 long-serving members. The MCC claims that casuals are not 
entitled to access the provisions of the LSL Act.

'One of our members has worked at the MCG since the Melbourne Olympics', 
said Alliance Industrial Organiser Nicky Kepert. 'He's seen more games of 
footy at the MCG than Kevin Bartlett and Michael Tuck combined, not to 
mention the large number of cricket matches and concerts he's worked at.

"Long service leave after 15 years loyal employment is a well established 
right for Victorian workers", said Ruth Frenzel, LHMU Industrial Officer.

"The law doesn't exclude casual workers from that right. We are astonished 
that the operators at the MCG are choosing to deny these workers a right 
every other worker in the State is granted."

Victorian Unions will continue this campaign throughout the AFL Final 
series.