DISPUTE OVER FEDERAL GROUP TRAINING DEMANDS LODGED IN FWC
United Voice Tasmania, the casino workers union has lodged a dispute against Federal Group in the Fair Work Commission alleging workers have been expected to complete compulsory training on problem gambling unpaid and in their own time.
Workers at Country Club Casino and Wrest Point Casino have been directed by Federal Group for several years to complete the compulsory training course – Responsible Conduct of Gambling at home. The course teaches employees how to recognise and address problem gambling, how to understand gaming legislation and how to minimise harmful gambling.
Celeste Miller, United Voice spokesperson says, “It’s completely outrageous that the wealthy Federal Group, with their wealth gained from their gambling monopoly in Tasmania has been expecting this of their workers.
“Federal Group websites write about staff being qualified and trained in addressing problem gambling. How outrageous that despite such boasts, they aren’t even paying workers to undertake this training or paying to conduct the training in a professional manner in-house. Just how serious is their commitment to addressing problem gambling?
“Workers at Country Club and Wrest Point deserve better. They need to be paid for this training and to have it delivered in a professional manner. And the community deserves a much better and more serious commitment from Federal Group, Tasmanians lose $110 million a year on gaming machines and it’s estimated the state has 2,000 problem gamblers.”
The union estimates that between 400 to 700 employees could be affected and the cost of lost wages could run up to $120 000. The demands to train in your own time could go back as far as 2013.
The time spent registering, training and doing the assessment takes up to six hours for employees to complete. The course is required to be undertaken at least every five years by employees working in the areas of gaming, security and bars.
