Pizza shop owner caught charging at young worker and dad with spatula

Exclusive: A pizza shop owner has been caught on camera charging at his young worker and his father with a spatula amid a heated pay dispute.

Tony Campbell, who runs Jessie's Pizza on Victoria's Phillip Island, also threatened to "chop the head off" his worker's father using the large utensil.

The confrontation happened after the worker's father — a former police officer — confronted Campbell regarding allegations of underpayment and a lack of superannuation benefits.

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Mitch, 20, who delivered pizzas for about a month late last year, claimed to A Current Affair he was also repeatedly berated and called a "retard" and "terrible worker" by his boss.

Mitch suffered a stroke at birth and lives with neurological challenges.

He now admits he was confused by the working arrangement, which was hazy, because he said there was no formal contract.

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Mitch said Campbell would send him a text message when there was work available and he would be paid cash to deliver pizzas using his car.

His father, Brenton, intervened after noticing a lack of employment paperwork and haphazard cash payments.

"There was no consistency with money coming in," Brenton said.

"I'm a big believer in setting yourself up for the future with superannuation, and I didn't see any paperwork at all."

When Brenton visited the shop to ask about his son's superannuation, video footage showed Campbell charging at him with a pizza spatula he pulled out from behind the counter.

"It would have certainly caused severe injury if contact was made," Brenton said, initially fearing it was a meat cleaver.

"He was way too close for my comfort."

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Advocates say the case highlights the challenges faced by young workers across the nation.

JobWatch executive director Zana Bytheway said while verbal contracts were binding, written agreements were paramount.

"Power imbalances already exist between employers and employees, and here this imbalance is amplified by the fact the worker is young and has a disability," Bytheway said.

Campbell was charged with making a threat to kill and unlawful assault over the confrontation.

At a Magistrates' Court hearing in February, he was given an adjourned undertaking, effectively meaning the case will be withdrawn if he is of good behaviour for a year and complies with various conditions, including completing 10 counselling sessions.

Campbell refused to speak with A Current Affair when approached at his Phillip Island shop, locking the doors and barricading himself inside.

Watch the full story in the video player above.