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🗞️ACTU calls for wages boost ahead of today’s Annual Wage Review hearing

🗞️ACTU calls for wages boost ahead of today’s Annual Wage Review hearing

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The ACTU, in advance of the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review hearing in Sydney today, is restating its demand for a 5% increase in minimum and award wages, in addition to an additional interim boost of at least 4% for workers in critical feminised occupations. One in four Australian workers, or 2.6 million workers, may have their pay affected by the Fair Work Commission's judgement. According to the ACTU, in order to assist workers in coping with the strains of living expenses and make up for actual salaries lost during the pandemic, a 5% rise is required. For those employed in historically underappreciated feminised fields like early childhood education, healthcare support, and disability home care, the ACTU moreover supports a supplemental interim raise with at least 4%. Prior to a thorough evaluation, this would be the initial step in resolving systemic gender wage disparity. ACTU President Michele O’Neil said Working people need a 5% pay rise to start getting ahead again and make up for the real wage losses from the pandemic as well as the decade of wage stagnation under the Coalition government.

He said this is especially true for those in feminised industries, where an additional interim increase of at least 4% is a vital first step in valuing the critical work of early childhood educators and disability homecare workers.

“Over the last two years we have seen historic increases in the minimum wage and awards, and yet inflation has dropped from a high of 7.8 percent to 3.6 percent during that period. Employer groups should be reminded of that the next time they argue against giving a pay rise to cleaners, carers and hospitality workers.

“For the employer groups to jump on cost-of-living measures like the $300 energy rebate to argue for lower wages is an insult. Big business wants the cost-of-living relief to go into their pockets instead of the pockets of our lowest-paid workers.” He said.

He said the Commonwealth Bank reported a dip in its March quarter profits down to $2.4 billion. That is still well above what the entire ACTU claim would cost for an estimated 2.6 million workers.

“Achieving equal pay for women requires systemic change and targeted pay rises in feminised industries that are historically very low-paid. A 9% pay increase will not only support families with cost-of-living pressures but also begin addressing the gender pay gap in sectors like early childhood education.

“A pay rise is not only good for workers but also beneficial for the economy. When employers boast of high corporate profits while pushing for real pay cuts, they ignore the very real struggles facing Australia’s lowest paid workers and their families.” He said.

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In contrast to corporate earnings, which have increased at a rate nearly three times faster than minimum and award wages since the pandemic's beginning, the ACTU's comments emphasise that the pay increases will have essentially no effect on inflation. Less than 1% of the business gains from the previous year might have gone towards paying for the wage hikes. ABS data over the past few years shows that historically high minimum wage and award pay increases have coincided with a notable decline in inflation, supporting the notion that the 5% and 9% claims had no adverse effect on inflation. The minimum wage would rise to $24.39 an hour with a 5% wage increase, meaning the yearly full-time rate would climb by $2,295 to $48,200. Comparing employer group proposals to the ACTU's assertion, some of Australia's lowest-paid workers would lose out on roughly $1,350 annually. The combined 9% raise the ACTU is seeking would result in a salary increase of roughly $90 per week for full-time carers employed in feminised industries. Usually, the Commission makes its decision in early June, with the wage increases going into effect on July 1, 2024.

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🗞️ACTU calls for wages boost ahead of today’s Annual Wage Review hearing

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