Minimum Wages

Time for a Pay Rise

Over 1.6 million workers around the country are paid basic award or minimum wages.

Among our ranks there are thousands of aged care, disability and Aboriginal health workers who receive minimum rates and are not covered by enterprise agreements.

In the past the only pay rises these workers received was won by unions in the annual case heard by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

But now new work laws mean that the AIRC will no longer decide on the annual wage rise.

Instead a so-called Fair Pay Commission (hand-picked by the Federal Government) will meet sometime later in 2006 to decide if the low-paid should get a pay rise.

It's not good enough and all members should support the campaign to lift minimum wage rates.

The more we push for the pay rise the better chance we have of getting it.

Why not get involved in the campaign and either help get yourself a pay rise or help those who need a payrise.

Take Action

Send a protest letter.

Minimum Wages News

Government's own advice says low paid will suffer under new work laws - 19 December 2005
Secret advice to the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello confirms that changes to work laws will reduce the wage rises low-paid workers receive. ...    read more »

Unions Win $17 A Week Pay Rise For 1.6 Million Award Workers - 07 June 2005
Craig Thomson, National Secretary said "We are very pleased with a wage increase of $17 a week for working people reliant on minimum wages but are very concerned that the changes recently announced by John Howard will threaten future pay increases for low paid workers....    read more »

Wage case must not be the last - 12 April 2005
Unions will be pushing for a $26.60 pay rise for 1.6 million Australian workers covered by awards in the national wage case which begins today. ...    read more »

Will this be the last wage case? - 18 February 2005
The ACTU today lodged the bid by unions for a $26.60 pay rise for 1.6 million low paid Australians. ...    read more »

2005 wage case must proceed on time - 06 December 2004
Unions will today push for 1.6 million low paid workers to get a wage increase on time. ...    read more »

Background Information

Why Should Minimum Wages Increase? - 18 December 2003
Each year the ACTU and trade unions work hard to improve the living conditions of Australia’s lowest paid workers and the Minimum Wages Case is an important part of that strategy....    read more »

Five Myths About Minimum Wages - 18 December 2003
There is plenty of misinformation about minimum wages spread by the Federal Government and employers. Read the facts: ...    read more »

Campaign Message from the National Secretary Craig Thomson - 16 December 2003
The Minimum Wage Case comes around every year but for some reason there is a lot of confusion among workers and the general community about what it is....    read more »

Case Study - Aboriginal Health Worker - 16 December 2003
Michelle Nona from Innisfail in Queensland is one of thousands of Aboriginal Health Workers who rely on the minimum wage case for a pay rise....    read more »

2004 Minimum Wages Case Fact Sheet - 15 December 2003
The ACTU and unions will seek a $26.60 a week increase in minimum award pay rates in the 2004 Minimum Wage Case in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. ...    read more »

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
This page: http://www.hsua.org.au/campaigns/minimumwages/index.html
Last Modified: Wednesday, 15-Aug-2007 09:36:47 EST