The owners of a burger franchise in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs have sacked a young worker who was part of a group asking to be paid the legal minimum for hospitality workers. Kahlani Pyrah, a member of United Voice, was told on 10 July that her employment with Grill’d was terminated. She was accused of bullying two of her managers by making it difficult for them to manage “the team”.

The 20-year-old and her union believe she was fired because of her involvement in a Grill’d workers’ campaign to be paid award rates. Kahlani was sacked less than a week before she was due to appear at the Fair Work Commission to put the Grill’d workers’ case. This hearing has now been delayed while the union seeks a Federal Court injunction to have her reinstated.

Speaking to Red Flag, Kahlani said, “Young workers shouldn’t have to be afraid to stand up for their rights or to be a member of their union”.

Camberwell Grill’d, where she worked, is owned by brothers Brad and Matt Walker. The pair, who also own a number of other Grill’d stores, have been recognised three times by the Franchise Council of Australia at its annual gala award ceremony.

Earlier this year, workers at Camberwell Grill’d discovered that their flat wage rates were much lower than the applicable award. Some of the majority young workforce was being paid $9.00 an hour, below the national minimum wage. Many had been paid trainee wages for months or years without ever receiving training.

Kahlani and her workmates also realised that they were covered by a WorkChoices-era greenfields agreement that expired in 2008. The agreement cut all weekend penalty rates, overtime rates, casual loading and paid breaks.

After the Grill’d workers formulated a list of demands that included back pay for underpayments and wage increases, with penalty rates, the brothers Walker appeared to relent. However, partial back payments were made only to some and pay rises promised in May did not eventuate.

Kahlani then applied to the Fair Work Commission to have the agreement terminated. If her application is successful, the Grill’d franchise bosses will have to pay their workers award wages, which will mean a significant pay rise for all. They have engaged a major corporate law firm to argue against the Grill’d workers’ case.

“Whatever happens from here, we’ve learnt that we can make a change when we stand up together”, said Kahlani. “Now we want to spread that message.”

[A petition in support of Kahlani and the Grill’d workers can be signed at grilldandburnd.com.au.]