Almost 900 JB Hi-Fi employees from across the store network have signed an online petition calling for stores to be closed amid COVID-19. The Good Guys employees are also encouraged to sign the petition, which is by and for JB Hi-Fi workers in Australia, circulated by the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU).
The RAFFWU says as infection case numbers grow – even larger than New Zealand where stores have already closed – it is inevitable that JB Hi-Fi will close its physical stores in Australia to the public very soon.
“We know that a strong future will continue for JB Hi-Fi where it is able to continue to secure its greatest asset – us – its workers. It is now that JB Hi-Fi needs to pay forward its success of recent times by doing the right thing by its workers,” the online petition states.
Through the union, JB Hi-Fi claims the following:
- Time is of the essence and staff and customer safety is at stake – we ask that JB Hi-Fi closes its stores and move online only in an effort to protect our health – both physical and mental.
- We do not accept that staff should be using their annual leave or sick leave to protect themselves and their families, many staff do not have enough leave left to give, and no one should have to choose between their health and food on the table.
- All workers employed on a casual basis must be paid a base rate wage based on the average of their weekly shift hours over the past three months.
- All permanent staff must be paid their contracted hours at base rate during the time of closure with no reduction in sick or personal leave.
JB Hi-Fi declined to issue a statement.