Westfield workers slapped with $5 daily charge in lockdown despite shops being shut

Weary retail workers facing “daily potential exposure” to the virus are pleading for more support. Here’s what they need.

Essential workers have slammed a shopping centre giant for making them pay to park during lockdown.

Westfield Southland and Doncaster have continued to charge staff $5 a day to park despite a fraction of businesses within the centres remaining open.

Both centres previously allowed staff to park for free during lockdown.

Southland pharmacy worker Lauren O’Rourke was fuming about the decision not to waive the charges.

“I’m an essential worker, given the current circumstances I think it’s disgusting,” she said.

Ms O’Rourke said about five businesses were open to customers at the Cheltenham centre.

Perry Tzantos, who works at Woodfrog Bakery at Doncaster, said retail workers were facing greater risks from Covid and deserved more support.

“We are exposed and anything that can be done to help make our work easier should be done,” Mr Tzantos said.

He said carparks at the centre were “pretty quiet” as businesses were closed and customers stayed home.

“Even a discount on the charges for workers would be appreciates,” he said.

“I guess it is all to do with the centre’s bottom line.”

A Scentre Group spokesman confirmed controlled parking was still in force at Westfield Southland and Doncaster

“We provided free parking at Westfield Southland and Westfield Doncaster for an extended period (seven months) last year because of the prolonged lockdown,” the spokesman said.

“We are continuing to monitor government restrictions and will keep our community updated on any changes to parking through our centre websites.”

Paid parking for Southland workers was introduced in 2017 when the train station opened at the Cheltenham Shopping Centre.

Protests by workers did not force a change and they now pay up to $1300 a year to park at their workplace.

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