Sydney law firm Levitt Robinson Solicitors is reportedly launching a class action against 7-Eleven and the ANZ bank on behalf of 7-Eleven franchisees following the wage-underpayment scandal that was uncovered in 2015.
In a statement yesterday (February 15), lawyer Stewart Levitt said the class action would seek damages from both the company, 7-Eleven Stores, and ANZ, which loaned many people the money they used to buy their franchise.
A statement of claim is expected to be filed in the Federal Court today (February 16).
In a submission to a federal parliament inquiry, Mr Levitt alleged 7-Eleven Stores practised a “de facto ethnic selection of franchisees”, to select store owners less likely to “blow the whistle” on employment practices, Fairfax Media reported in early 2016.
Mr Levitt told AAP yesterday the class action was, however, broader and based on a sweeping review of 7-Eleven’s “entire system and the ANZ funding”.
Early this morning, a spokesperson for 7-Eleven Stores said that, based on what is known, 7-Eleven intends to vigorously defend any such proceedings.
“We are proud of the significant efforts we have made together with our franchise network to continually adapt our business, and the positive results that are being achieved,” 7-Eleven said. “We intend to continue these efforts.”
