Southland shoppers, workers protest over new parking fees

WESTFIELD Southland has come to a standstill this morning as hundreds of shoppers and workers protest new parking fees at one of Melbourne’s busiest shopping centres.

UPDATE: Hundreds of retail workers and shoppers have taken to the streets around Westfield Southland this morning in protest parking fees that came into force today.

Passing drivers tooted their horns in support of the staff, who’ll be forced to pay $5 a day to park at work.

Union organisers and protesters chanted, ‘hey hey, ho ho! These parking fees have got to go!’ And, ‘they say 5 bucks, we say no way! 5 bucks! No way!’

Workers are staging a protest at Westfield Southland. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The protest coincides with the first day of a paid, ticketless system at the Cheltenham shopping centre.
Patrons will be slugged up to $18 under the plans, depending on the length of their stay.

Only consumers spending less than three hours at the centre will avoid the charges, while cinema goers will get four free hours before paying.

ANGER OVER SOUTHLAND PAID PARKING

WESTFIELD UNDER FIRE OVER STAFF CHARGES

The shopping centre’s move has angered shoppers and workers. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

The payment was introduced to prevent city commuters from clogging the car park when Southland station opens in November.

However, workers at the centre will be forced to pay $5 a day — about $100 a month — to park in a designated area at the shopping centre.

Hundreds of Southland workers, shoppers and union members were expected to line up outside Southland Shopping Centre today from 9am.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association Secretary Michael Donovan condemned the new fee, saying it was a “double-barrelled blow” to retail workers.

“We condemn this unfair and exorbitant cost being imposed by Westfield,” he said.

Southland employees are being slugged with a $5 daily parking charge from today. Picture: Nicki Connolly

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SHOPPING CENTRE PARKING

“Retail and fast food workers are lower-paid workers and cannot afford to pay $1,300 per year to attend work. Until today there was no charge for parking at work.”

Mr Donovan called on Westfield to revoke the parking charges and guarantee free parking for all employees.

“It’s a cost they can’t afford and don’t deserve,” he said. “What next? Charge a gold coin to go to the toilet while at work?”

Labor MP for Mordialloc Tim Richardson vowed to continue fighting the fees, arguing the upcoming Southland train station was a destination station that would bring more customers to the centre.

Shoppers will be charged up to $18 a day for parking. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“There are hundreds here, spread out in a few different spots. Our petition has about 7,500 signatures. People know this isn’t fair.

“Westfield can’t turn their back on our community. To hit low paid workers is plain wrong.”

A Westfield spokesman said cinemagoers will get four hours’ free parking and those with a disabled parking permit won’t pay at all.

The spokesman labelled the moves as “controlled parking” to ensure parking spaces were available for customers and staff and to “prevent anticipated pressure on the carpark due to the opening of the new train station”.

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