Pay rises not as rosy as the PM says

The Prime Minister's much quoted figure of '14 per cent increase in real wages' since 1996 is deceptive, according to new research commissioned by Unions NSW.

The average increase for non-managerial adult income between 1998 and 2004 was just 3.6 per cent, according to an analysis of ABS data carried out by Sydney University academics.

The analysis drawing together published and unpublished ABS data found:

• Workers in the lowest two percentiles, received an average increase of just 1.2 per cent over the six year period;

• Workers in the highest percentile were the only ones to enjoy a double digit increase in real wages (13.4 per cent)

• Middle income earners experiences the lowest increases of all.

HSU national secretary Craig Thomson said the figures showed the reality behind the claims of Mr Howard of a 14 per cent increase in real wages.

"High-flyers are doing well but for too many working Australians the amount they are receiving are not high enough," he said.

"Now with families struggling to make ends meet is not the time to be cutting the employment rights of people in the workforce."

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
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