Melbourne cultural organisations National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and Zoos Victoria have revealed they will no longer be employing casual staff.
Around 160 casual staff employed at the NGV were told on Friday they would no longer be employed, with all staff ineligible for JobKeeper because of the gallery's ties with the public service.
NGV director Tony Ellwood told staff in an email that the gallery's closure meant "casual staff will no longer be able to be remunerated until we are able to begin our normal operations again", and encouraged other staff to take annual leave.
Melbourne Zoo – dumping its casual staffCredit:Michael Clayton Jones
He said that himself, the executive management team and associate directors would be taking a minimum of a week annual leave by the end of June.
"We have been in direct contact with our colleagues who are affected by this to offer information, advice and support," Mr Ellwood told staff.
"With our current closure to the public, we are facing months without this self-generated revenue, which means we have a significant financial challenge ahead of us."
More than 250 casual staff at Zoos Victoria also received their last pay cheques this week, with staff unable to access the JobKeeper wage (up to $1500 a fortnight) as the zoo is an agency of the state government.
Casual staff were told the coronavirus was having a "significant impact on our business operations" in an email from human resources manager Jantine Eddelbuttel.
Zoos Victoria chief executive Jenny Gray said the closure on March 24 had a significant impact on business operations and revenue.
She said that despite this, casual staff unable to work due to the closure were paid for four weeks at a rate equal to the average hours they’d worked based on rosters from the past six months.
"This was an extremely difficult decision to take, but sadly unavoidable given the impacts of coronavirus," Ms Gray said.
"As highly-valued members of Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary, these staff members are vital to our operations, and we hope to welcome them back once we can reopen to our members and visitors."
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