16 Year Old Geelong Worker Paid in Five Cent Pieces
The Country IR Cavalcade has successfully completed its tour of country Victoria, visiting over 30 regional centres to engage with local communities and discuss the impact of the new industrial relations regime. In Geelong the cavalcade joined 80 local unionists in a demonstration outside a fish and chip shop which payed a sixteen-year-old employee in five cent pieces for work she'd done.
Geelong student, Dharnae Kern, was paid thousands of five cent pieces after doing 12 hours work at Gilligan's Fish and Chips, located on the Geelong foreshore. The employer, Mick Atkins, initially refused to pay her and relented only after Dharnae rang WageLine for advice.
With the support of her father Walter, she managed to get her pay, but was humiliated when handed a bag containing 1196 five cent coins.
Geelong Trades Hall Secretary, Tim Gooden, addressed a gathering outside the shop on Friday 16 December and the story was covered by the local Geelong Advertiser.
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