LEGAL action has been launched by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in the South Australia Employment Tribunal against some Chemist Warehouse franchisee store owners in Colonnades, Elizabeth City Centre, Modbury and Clovelly Park.
The nine workers claim their employers asked them to complete a Certificate III in Community Pharmacy to allow them to complete higher-level work duties.
However, a statement of claim lodged by the SDA states that the workers were not paid in line with their new duties and are owed a total of $45,000.
The SDA has warned that the lawsuit has the potential to affect 1,000 employees across 350 stores in Australia.
As reported in The Advertiser the average amount of money being claimed is $5,000 with the union estimating that the amount of underpayment, if the claims are proven, could be $600,000 in SA alone and up to $10m at a national level.
Commenting to Pharmacy Daily a spokesperson stated that Chemist Warehouse "itself is not a party to the proceedings with the SDA.
"Chemist Warehouse franchisees are respondents in the case.
"On speaking with the respondent franchisees, and as is noted in the article in the The Advertiser, they reject the allegation of any underpayment and will defend their position vigorously.
"Beyond this, as the matter is before the Tribunal, neither the franchisees nor Chemist Warehouse will make a further comment - as is standard practice."
The lawsuit is set down for a 10-day trial before the SA Employment Tribunal in Aug this year.
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