Thousands of underpaid Domino’s workers could be entitled to compensation following landmark class action
A Federal Court ruled that Domino’s Pizza Enterprises misled franchisees, leading to systemic underpayment of thousands of workers.Summary
A Federal Court has ruled that Domino’s Pizza Enterprises engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct by instructing Australian franchisees to underpay staff. Over a five-year period between 2013 and 2018, workers were paid under outdated enterprise agreements rather than the mandatory Fast Food Industry Award, causing them to miss out on essential benefits like casual loading, penalty rates, and minimum shift requirements.
The class action was initiated by law firm Phi Finney McDonald on behalf of former driver Riley Gall. Justice Bernard Murphy found that the company's conduct was unlawful and that a substantial cohort of workers suffered losses due to these practices. While the initial trial focused on the applicant's specific losses, the court noted that other similarly situated employees are likely entitled to compensation.
Representatives from the Retail and Fast Food Workers’ Union (RAFFWU) and legal counsel Brett Spiegel have hailed the decision as a landmark victory for workers. They emphasized that systematic underpayment is an unlawful business model that inflicts significant harm on vulnerable employees.
(Source：PerthNow)