Howard offers token amount for sacked workers
Howard is promising workers who are sacked unlawfully will have access to a $4000 legal fund to fight their dismissal - effectively an admission that workers will be worse off under the new legislation.He outlined the provisions for the handout in Perth today (Thursday 29/09/05), which will cover only a fraction of the estimated $25,000 cost of mounting an ‘unlawful termination’ action in the courts.
Current laws protect workers from ‘unfair dismissal’ – being sacked for no reason or an unfair reason. Unfair dismissal hearings are conducted by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, are heard quickly with minimum costs and do not require the presence of lawyers.
Under the proposed legislation up to 4 million Australian workers will be denied this protection and could be forced to go through lengthy court cases to determine if they have been treated unlawfully.
Also, if they lose they could be forced to pay the costs of their former employer.
If the new laws are passed up to 4 million Australian workers will have no protection from unfair dismissal.
Learn more about what these changes mean
More Archive
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Country IR Cavalcade Finishes
2005 - Dec - 22The 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....read more
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Fair Pay Commission Head's Dodgy Business Past
2005 - Dec - 21The head of the Federal Government’s new Fair Pay Commission was a director of a company that went bust, owing its workers over $700,000....read more
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IR Laws to Force Down Minimum Wage
2005 - Dec - 20The Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, has been forced to release a report which shows the new workplace relations system will provide smaller wage increases for low income earners....read more
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16 Year Old Geelong Worker Paid in Five Cent Pieces
2005 - Dec - 19Geelong 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....read more
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Victorian Unions Participate in National Manufacturing Summit
2005 - Dec - 15Unions attended the National Manufacturing Summit 2005: Thriving in a Global Environment in Melbourne....read more
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Eight Hour Day - Invitation to participate in Moomba parade
2005 - Dec - 15The Eight Hour Day 150th Anniversary Project is looking for volunteers to participate in the Moomba parade....read more
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VTHC Country IR Cavalcade in Final Week
2005 - Dec - 14Unionists have had an overwhelmingly positive response from country Victoria....read more
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Seven Myths About Howard's Industrial Relations Agenda: Busted
2005 - Dec - 13Howard’s arguments on industrial relations are embarrassingly flimsy. But he keeps repeating them. Howard’s main claims collapse under any sort of basic scrutiny....read more
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VTHC Regional Victoria IR Campaign's successful second week
2005 - Dec - 07VTHC Regional Victoria IR Campaign has had successful second week....read more
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Eight Hour Day Banners added to Vic Heritage Register
2005 - Dec - 06The Heritage Council of Victoria has added the Eight Hour Day Banners to the Victoria Heritage Register...read more
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VTHC Condemns Howard’s Attack On Building Workers’ Family Picnics
2005 - Dec - 06The Victorian Trades Hall Council condemns Prime Minister John Howard’s claim on radio this years' annual building workers’ picnics on would be the last ever held....read more
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Eight Hour Day Website Launched
2005 - Dec - 01A website devoted to the Eight Hour Day goes online today. The new website, developed to coincide with the 150th Anniversary of the Eight Hour Day, has resources for Victorian primary and secondary teachers and students....read more
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Jobs at ASU Vic Authorities and Services Branch
2005 - Dec - 01A number of positions have become available at the ASU Victorian Authorities and Services Branch...read more
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Country IR Campaign
2005 - Nov - 29VTHC's Country IR Campaign will visit many Victorian towns over three weeks to spread the word about the realities of John Howard's new IR laws....read more
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VTHC Conducts anti- IR laws Campaign in Regional Victoria 28.11.05 - 16.12.05
2005 - Nov - 28A Cavalcade, including a mini-bus and ten union cars left Trades Hall today to continue the fight against IR laws in Regional Victoria....read more
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Letter of Support
2005 - Nov - 23I am a war widow, 84 years of age, who started work at 13 ½ years of age in 1934. At that time the working week was 54 hours......read more
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South African Union Leader visits Melbourne
2005 - Nov - 18South African trade union leader, Willie Madisha, visited Australia in support of the fight against the IR laws....read more
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National Day of Protest - Traffic Information
2005 - Nov - 14Leave your cars at home - Tuesday 15 November if you are driving into Melbourne City. Flinders, Exhibition & Swanston Streets closed from 7am for National Community Day of Protest....read more
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Public transport workers avoid checking tickets for Nov 15 rally
2005 - Nov - 11Public transport workers will assist those attending Tuesday’s National Day of Community Protest in Melbourne by not checking tickets between 6am and 9am....read more
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November 15 March Route
2005 - Nov - 11Community Day of Protest - Join the march...read more
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Trade Union Family Race Day Success!
2005 - Nov - 09The annual event at Cranbourne Racecourse had a record crowd this year of 8000 people. ...read more
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“Dog’s Breakfast” to make-a-meal of Workers’ Rights
2005 - Nov - 08The Federal Government’s Industrial Relations legislation has finally been released and confirms the worst predictions of its critics....read more
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WorkLies - Millions of your tax dollars at work
2005 - Oct - 20Lost public holidays, no protection from unfair dismissal, restricted rights to union representation; Australian workers face an increasingly uncertain future under John Howard’s proposed Industrial Relations changes.
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New Workplace Privacy Laws Neeeded
2005 - Oct - 06New workplace privacy laws and an independent regulator are needed to protect Victorian workers from invasions of privacy, says a report by the Victorian Law Reform Commission....read more
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Picket Line Kits launch
2005 - Oct - 05Geelong Trades Hall is launching new 'Picket Line Kits on Friday 7 October, 4.30pm....read more
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Victoria’s Disability carers protest for better pay
2005 - Oct - 04Disability Carers across Victoria have been taking industrial action for several weeks in support of their claims for a new enterprise agreement - HACSU Media Release...read more
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Media Alert: Workplace Privacy Laws Need Updating
2005 - Oct - 04Tomorrow, the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s Workplace Privacy – Final Report is being launched by Attorney -General, Rob Hulls...read more
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Government bargaining agenda forces union stop-work meetings
2005 - Oct - 04Starting Monday 3 October and continuing for the following three weeks, Centrelink workers will hold a series of rolling stop-work meetings over stalled enterprise bargaining agreement talks...read more
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Community campaign in Deakin
2005 - Sep - 23The ASU together with the Finance Sector Union and the State Public Sector Union are launching a community campaign in the Federal seat of Deakin, held by Liberal member Phil Baressi....read more
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APESMA - Two Positions Available
2005 - Sep - 23Two jobs on offer at APESMA, representing the industrial and professional employment interests of 45,000 technical specialists and senior managers throughout Australia....read more
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Unions vow to continue IR campaign
2005 - Sep - 07Delegates and representatives of Victoria's unions met at Dallas Brooks Hall to map-out the continuing campaign against the Federal Government's attack on workers rights....read more
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Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA
2005 - Aug - 23Indonesian speaking union trainer or organiser needed....read more
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Vic Gov IR Campaign Launch
2005 - Aug - 11Victorian Government Industrial Relations Advertising Campaign Launch...read more
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Employment Opportunity - CFMEU
2005 - Aug - 10Organiser/ Industrial Officer - CFMEU - Mining & Energy Division...read more
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Trades Hall applauds Victorian Government’s pledge to protect Public Sector Workers
2005 - Aug - 02The Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) applauds the Victorian Government’s pledge to protect the current award wages and conditions of the Victorian Public Sector, from the new Federal Workplace laws....read more
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Valé Ray Hogan
2005 - Jul - 26Ray Hogan, former Secretary and President of the Miscellaneous Workers Union, President of the Victorian ALP and President of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, died last Tuesday 19th July....read more
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Industrial Relations Changes
2005 - Jul - 07Read what Howard's IR changes mean for you....read more
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Striking the Balance: Women, men, work and family
2005 - Jul - 05Join Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward for a union forum on paid work and family responsibilities....read more
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Howard's Approval Slumps
2005 - Jul - 05An AgePoll reports John Howard's approval rating has fallen by 10% since the launch of his industrial relations offensive....read more
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Employment Opportunities at LHMU
2005 - Jul - 05Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union have two positions on offer....read more
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100,000 Rally Against Howard - 30 June 2005
2005 - Jun - 30Up to 120,000 workers and union supporters took to the streets today to protest the Howard Government’s Industrial Relations agenda....read more
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March Route
2005 - Jun - 29Thousands to march through city to protest Howard's industrial relations agenda....read more
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Tens of Thousands to Rally - Thursday 30 June
2005 - Jun - 28Workers from a wide cross section of the community are expected to rally in the centre of Melbourne this Thursday against the changes that the Howard Government will put through the Senate in August....read more
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VCOSS says welfare package 'regressive'
2005 - Jun - 28The Victorian Council of Social Services warns the Federal Government's 'welfare to work' package begins the dismantling of Australia's welfare safety net....read more
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ASU OH&S Officer Position
2005 - Jun - 23The ASU Victorian Authorities and Services branch invite expressions of interests for the Occupational Health & Safety Support Officer....read more
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VTHC gets behind ACTU’S T.V. Ads I.R. Blitz
2005 - Jun - 21On Sunday 19 June, the ACTU launched the national trade union movement’s T.V. Ads Campaign....read more
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ACTU Launches Super Web Site
2005 - Jun - 17The ACTU has launched a superannuation website designed to inform and educate union members and employees about super....read more
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New Workplace Laws Attack Workers, Families and Communities
2005 - Jun - 10A coalition of unions and western suburbs community groups are calling on people to fight the Howard Government’s changes to industrial relations laws and are holding a public meeting to explain the impact upon workers, families and the community....read more
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AIRC’s Safety Net Review Decision - Victoria to lag behind in wage rises
2005 - Jun - 08Victorian workers’ who rely on the AIRC’s Annual Safety Net Review of Minimum Wages will have to wait until 1 August 2005 for their Safety Net Increase....read more
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Administration Officer Position available at the UFU National Office
2005 - Jun - 02New job available at Firefighters Union...read more
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VTHC Council Elections
2005 - May - 18The 2005 Victorian Trades Hall Council Elections were conducted at the Council Meeting on 5th May. New leadership was chosen with Brian Boyd elected as Secretary, Nathan Niven re-elected as Assistant Secretary and Peter Marshall (UFU) elected as VTHC President....read more
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Kemalex workers need your help
2005 - May - 18Workers at Kemalex Plastics in Dandenong South have been protesting for the past two weeks and they need your help...read more
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Trades Hall set to recruit 10,000 health and safety reps by 2007
2005 - Apr - 28The Victorian Trades Hall Council today launched its campaign to recruit 10,000 new occupational health and safety reps by International Workers' Memorial Day 2007 in its ongoing campaign to make Victorian workplaces safer....read more
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Unions back May Day call to Make Poverty History
2005 - Apr - 28A global alliance of trade unions, aid organisations, charities and religious groups aims to "Make Poverty History"....read more
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Thousands query Pink Salt campaign to force restaurant workers onto individual employment contracts
2005 - Apr - 11More than 100,000 people have visited LHMU Hospitality Union's The Pink Salt protest campaign site in a little over a week - wanting to show they don't like the AWA individual employment contracts Evan Hansimikali and Bella Serventare have offered their great restaurant staff....read more
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Rally calls for greater spending on mental health
2005 - Mar - 31Unions and community groups have called on the State Government for more resources for mental health at a rally on the steps of Parliament House today....read more
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New job position at HACSU
2005 - Mar - 30Health and Community Services Union seeks applications for the new position of Organiser....read more
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Trades Hall hosts Keating! the opera
2005 - Mar - 30Trades Hall hosts Keating! The Country Soul Opera We Had To Have. Billed as the simple tale of an Australian political superhero and his valiant battles with assorted mugs, dummies, gutless spivs, clowns, fools and scumbags....read more
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Unions commemorate dead on International Workers Memorial Day
2005 - Mar - 30Victorian workplaces have had a horror start to the year with 9 fatalities as of 30 March as unions prepare to commemorate all workers who've died on the job worldwide. Thursday, 28 April will mark the tenth International Workers Memorial Day when unions in Australia and internationally `mourn the dead and fight for the living' with commemorative events and campaign activities....read more
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Victorian Trades Hall Council Delegates commit to fight for a fair and universal industrial relation
2005 - Mar - 23Victorian Trades Hall today launched its campaign against the Howard Government's proposed changes to the industrial relations system during a meeting at Dallas Brooks Hall where delegates committed to fight for a fair and universal system that protects workers....read more
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8 hour movement more relevant than ever
2005 - Mar - 14In his last Labour Day address to the Victorian union movement, outgoing Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard today welcomed the opportunity provided by the upcoming 8 hour day anniversary to highlight issues of working time....read more
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Trades Hall welcomes 8 hour day funding
2005 - Mar - 14On Labour Day, Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard welcomed the announcement of State Government support for next year's 8 hour day anniversary celebrations and the focus they will bring on contemporary issues of working time....read more
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Help Tenix workers get a collective solution
2005 - Mar - 10Despite workers overwhelmingly voting for a collective agreement at Tenix Solutions, the company refuses to chnage their offer of individual contracts. Send an email telling the company to listen to their workers....read more
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Two million working families will be worse off under Govt wage plans, says ACTU
2005 - Mar - 07Federal Government plans to change the way minimum wages are set would mean up to two million working Australians would either never get a pay rise or would get much less than they do under the current 'independent umpire' system says the ACTU....read more
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500 Victorian jobs at risk at Tabcorp
2005 - Mar - 04500 jobs at Tabcorp Account Sales (telephone betting call centres) are at risk following Tabcorp's take over of the NSW TAB....read more
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Iranian unionist jailed by Howard Government since 2000
2005 - Mar - 03Daryoush Hooshmand Nejad is an electrician and union activist who fled to Australia from Iran over four years ago. He was fleeing for his life from the brutal Iranian government. Instead of being given refugee status, however, Daryoush has been locked up - without charge or trial - since he arrived in Australia in October 2000....read more
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Baxter 2005 - National protest this easter
2005 - Mar - 02This Easter people from around Australia will converge on Baxter Detention Centre in Port Augusta, South Australia. We will call for the centre's immediate closure, and for an end to Australia's mandatory detention regime....read more
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Trades Hall calls for WorkCover profit to be used to lighten workers' burden
2005 - Mar - 01The Victorian Trades Hall Council welcomed today's announcement by the Victorian WorkCover Authority of another positive financial performance and called on the Government to use the profit to increase spending on preventative programs and improve workers' entitlements under the scheme....read more
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Tenix workers say no to individual contracts, yes to union representation
2005 - Feb - 28The processing of speeding fines and traffic infringements for Victorian motorists ceased today (Monday 28th February) as 120 administration workers at Tenix Solutions took protest action over their right to choose to be covered by a collective enterprise agreement in their workplace....read more
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Workers to be made to work harder and longer, with injuries to increase
2005 - Feb - 25On the occasion of International RSI Awareness Day (known in Australia as Occupational Overuse Syndrome), the Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard today warned Victorian workers that under the proposals unveiled by Kevin Andrews, the Federal Minister for Workplace Relations, they will be made to work harder and longer increasing the likelihood of developing injuries such as OOS....read more
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Retrenched workers need your support at ABM Plastics
2005 - Feb - 23There is an urgent need for solidarity with the workers at ABM Plastics. They have been picketing the plant since 21 January in order to force the company owner Abe Waisman to pay them $2.5 million in redundancy entitlements....read more
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Labour reforms must be fair
2005 - Feb - 21ACTU Secretary, Greg Combet, has called on the Howard government to consult with unions and workers and not just listen to big business before making any decisions regarding IR reform....read more
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Long Service Leave proposal brings Victoria into line
2005 - Feb - 09The Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard today welcomed the proposal by the Victorian Government to amend the Long Service Leave Act in line with standards in other states....read more
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Bracks decision on road funding regrettable
2005 - Feb - 08The Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard today expressed disappointment at the Victorian Government's decision to sign the Federal Government's National Building Code....read more
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Leigh Hubbard makes way for new blood at Trades Hall
2005 - Jan - 28Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard today announced his resignation from the position, effective from Friday, April 8, 2005. Mr Hubbard indicated that with elections due in May for another four- year term it was time for new leadership at the peak body of the Victorian trade union movement....read more
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Australia Day: celebration or commemoration?
2005 - Jan - 25Is the 26th of January Australia Day or Invasion Day? Is it a day for celebration, a day of mourning or protest? Take the ANTAR quiz and find out....read more
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Job vacancies at the NTEU
2005 - Jan - 20The Victorian Branch of the National Tertiary Education Union has 3 job vacancies for industrial officers and organisers available....read more
More Latest News
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My Restaurant Rules competitor The Pink Salt can win with a decent workplace
2005 - Mar - 31We want to tell Evan and Bella - the owners of The Pink Salt restaurant - that they can't expect Sydney's vote in the popular My Restaurant Rules TV reality show if they don't treat their workforce properly....read more