A CATERING company formerly operating out of one of Wagga’s largest clubs has been accused of underpaying workers.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched legal action against A to Z Catering Solution over alleged underpayments to workers at Wagga Rules Club.
It is claimed eight workers were underpaid a total of $24,139 between July 2013 and April 2014.
A to Z supplied the employees to work as cooks and waiters at the Rules Club under a contract it held at the time with the Riverina Australian Football Club to run the venue’s restaurant.
The employees included two teenagers, aged 17 and 18, and three aged in their early 20s.
It is alleged that most of the underpayments were the result of casual employees being paid flat rates ranging from $10 to $20 an hour.
The flat rates allegedly weren’t sufficient to cover the minimum hourly rates, overtime rates and weekend penalty rates the casual employees were entitled to under the Registered and Licensed Clubs Award.
The casual employees were entitled to receive up to $39 an hour for some hours worked.
A to Z Catering also allegedly breached the adverse action provisions of workplace laws by not offering further work to a casual waitress because she inquired about her pay by writing “weekend rates???” on a time-and-pay sheet. The action does not involve current Rules Club caterer, Wagga Catering Service.
