A dozen Eden-Monaro retail unionists attended a meeting at Lincoln Downs on Thursday, for the release of a report into the economic impact of cutting penalty rates on rural and regional economies.

Some employers want penalty rates cut or abolished, but unions oppose the move.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association official Phillipe LeCompte met members to share the results of the Economic Impact of Penalty Rate Cuts on Rural NSW report.

South-east co-ordinator Julie Myers said areas such as the Eurobodalla would suffer.

“If you take the penalty rates away from people who work on a Saturday, Sunday or public holidays, then they have to decide whether or not they can let their children play weekend sport, make car and mortgage payments, take the family out for dinner and how many groceries they can buy," she said.

"The list goes on; it has a big snowball effect.

“If people don’t have money to spend, then the whole town suffers.

"Some employers are saying that if they save this money they can put another employee on, but they will be putting it in their own pockets.

"It is about the bottom line.”

Retail worker Maurie Albany said penalty rates were vital for low-wage earners.

“It is really important to be fair, because lowly-paid Australian workers are struggling enough on the basic wage at the moment,” he said.

“Penalty cuts are simply not a sustainable, long-term way of ensuring profitability for retailers in regional and rural areas.

“We mustn’t forget that penalty rates are paid in compensation for the loss of time with family.

"Retail workers should be given a fair go and retain penalty rates for working long hours, weekends and public holidays.

"The families, communities and local economies of regional and rural NSW will lose if retail penalty rates are cut."