DO I GET PAID IF A PUBLIC HOLIDAY FALLS ON MY NON-ROSTERED DAY?No. Because the Fair Work Commission did not accept the SDA’s

case to include the public holiday non-working-day benefit in the

General Retail Industry Award, the Agreement does not contain a

non-working-day benefit for any public holidays.

WORKING ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEAR’S EVEYour Agreement provides that work after 6.00pm on Christmas Eve

and New Year’s Eve is voluntary, subject to certain conditions being

met. The conditions are:

u Team members need to advise Woolworths at least four weeks

prior to Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve that they do not

wish to work after 6.00pm on that day;

u At the same time, Woolworths will assess the number of team

member volunteers that will be required to work;

u If there are not enough volunteers, Woolworths will first ask

casual team members to work the hours, and will then ask full-

time and part-time team members to work the hours; and

u Where a team member’s request not to work is granted, the

time off is unpaid and the team member will only be paid for

hours actually worked. A team member can request to take paid

annual leave for the hours not worked (see clause 19.6).

CONTACT THE UNIONIf you have any questions about your public holiday entitlements

or the trading arrangements over the Christmas/New Year period,

please speak to your Delegate, contact your Organiser or phone

the SDA Sydney office on 131 SDA (that’s 131 732).

Authorised by Bernie Smith, Branch Secretary-Treasurer, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, NSW Branch, Level 3, 8 Quay St, Sydney NSW 2000.

10/19062

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR SECRETARY,

BERNIE SMITH

The SDA has worked hard over many years to ensure that our members get time off work to spend with their

families on special occasions such as Christmas and over the New Year.

This leaflet explains the public holiday entitlements that apply to you over this Christmas/New Year period.If you have any questions about your public holiday

entitlements or trading arrangements over this period, please speak to your Delegate, contact your Organiser

or phone the SDA Sydney office on 131 SDA (that’s 131 732).

Have a happy and relaxing break, and remember, if you are on the roads over the Summer, drive safely.

2019/2020 Public Holidays & Trading Hours

IN THE ACT

WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKETS EMPLOYEES

This leaflet explains the public holiday entitlements and trading hour

arrangements specifically for Woolworths Supermarket team members

working in the Australian Capital Territory over this Christmas and

New Year period.

WORK ON ALL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARYThe Woolworths National Supermarkets Agreement 2018 (‘your

Agreement’) provides that all work performed on a public holiday is

voluntary. Therefore, under no circumstances can a team member be

required to work on a public holiday against their wishes.

CHRISTMAS DAY, WEDNESDAY 25 DECEMBERChristmas Day, Wednesday 25 December is a public holiday in the ACT.

Woolworths Supermarkets has informed the SDA that stores in

the Australian Capital Territory will close on the day. Team members

normally rostered to work on this day will be paid the single hourly rate

of pay for the hours they are normally rostered to work (clause 19.1).

BOXING DAY, THURSDAY 26 DECEMBERBoxing Day, Thursday 26 December is a public holiday in the ACT.

Team members who are rostered on and agree to work on Thursday

26 December are entitled to public holiday benefits for the day.

NEW YEAR’S DAY, WEDNESDAY 1 JANUARYNew Year’s Day, Wednesday 1 January is a public holiday in the ACT.

Team members who are rostered on and agree to work on Wednesday

1 January are entitled to public holiday benefits for the day.

AUSTRALIA DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY, MONDAY 27 JANUARYMonday 27 January is the Australia Day public holiday in the ACT.

Team members who are rostered on and agree to work on Monday

27 January are entitled to public holiday benefits for the day.

Sunday 26 January is not a public holiday in the ACT. This is because

the Holidays Act provides that where Australia Day falls on a Sunday,

the following Monday is declared a public holiday.

If you are rostered to work on the day and want to take the day off,

you will need to apply for a leave day or apply to use any accrued time

off in lieu (TOIL).

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR TRADING HOURS IN THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORYEvent/Day Public Holiday Public Holiday

Penalty RatesIs Work Voluntary? Trading Arrangements

Christmas Eve Tuesday 24 December 2019

No No No (however, work after 6.00pm is voluntary, subject to conditions)

Normal trading day. All Woolworths supermarkets can trade without restriction on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day Wednesday 25 December 2019

Public Holiday Yes Yes Closed day. Woolworths supermarkets has informed the SDA that they will close on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day Thursday 26 December 2019

Public Holiday Yes Yes Normal trading day. All Woolworths supermarkets can trade without restriction on Boxing Day in the ACT.

New Year’s Eve Tuesday 31 December 2019

No No No (however, work after 6.00pm is voluntary, subject to conditions)

Normal trading day. All Woolworths supermarkets can trade without restriction on New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Day Wednesday 1 January 2020

Public Holiday Yes Yes Normal trading day. All Woolworths supermarkets can trade without restriction on New Year’s Day.

Sunday 26 January 2020 No No No Normal trading day. All Woolworths supermarkets can trade without restriction on Sunday 26 January.

Australia Day Public HolidayMonday 27 January 2020

Public Holiday Yes Yes Normal trading day. All Woolworths supermarkets can trade without restriction on the Australia Day public holiday.

WHAT DO I GET PAID IF I WORK ON A PUBLIC HOLIDAY?Woolworths team members are paid the public holiday penalty rate for

working on a public holiday (a total of 225% for permanent team members,

250% for casual team members (clause 19.2)).

DO I HAVE TO WORK ON A PUBLIC HOLIDAY?Your Agreement provides that all work performed on a public holiday is

voluntary. Clause 19.1 (b) of the Agreement clearly states:

“Working on a public holiday is voluntary. A team member cannot be

required to work but may volunteer to work on any public holiday as

provided for in this clause.”

Full-time and part-time team members who are normally rostered on but

exercise their right not to work receive the benefit of the public holiday

by having the day off and being paid for the day based on their ordinary

single hourly rate of pay for the hours they are normally rostered to work.

CAN MY EMPLOYER CHANGE MY ROSTER TO AVOID PAYING ME A PUBLIC HOLIDAY BENEFIT?No. Clause 19.1(g) of the Agreement provides that a team member’s

standard roster cannot be changed to avoid or reduce a public

holiday penalty payment.

If you are rostered to work a set number of hours on a public holiday

and you are sent home early by Woolworths, it is the Union’s position

that you must still be paid for the total number of hours that you

agreed to work. This applies even to casuals. This does not apply

where a team member requests to go home early.

If you are sent home early and are not paid for the full hours you

were contracted to work, you should contact the Union without delay.

Team members are encouraged to speak to their Line Manager in the

event of any concern about their pay or roster.

CHECK YOUR AGREEMENTIt is most important to note that the specific entitlements with respect to public holidays are governed by the Agreement or Award applicable to your employment.Depending on which company you work for, there may be some differences in the rights outlined below. You should refer to your