Pay rise for award workers?

Unions are attempting to get a last pay rise for 1.6 million award workers before the Howard Government changes the system.

The ACTU has lodged a 4 per cent pay claim which would take the minimum wage for full time adult workers over $500 for the first time.

The claim has been lodged with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) which for over 100 years has decided on the pay rates for award workers.

However the Howard Government wants to end this system and appoint its own so-called Fair Pay Commission which will decide on any future wage rises.

Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews this week said the union claim for a four per cent rise should not go ahead because the new system would come into operation sometime next year.

HSU national secretary Craig Thomson said it was typical of the government to try and stop the last claim by unions for a pay rise for award workers.

"The Government wants to change the rules because it has been unhappy with the modest increases the AIRC has granted for Australia's 1.6 million award workers," he explained.

"But it is vital that this last case is heard by the commission. Nobody is sure when the so-called Fair Pay Commission will be up and running and how it will determine whether award workers will get a pay rise.

"It is not good enough. Award workers deserve a pay rise and they shouldn't have to wait to see how the new system will operate."

ACTU secretary Greg Combet said a 4% increase represents a pay rise of $19.38 a week for people on the minimum wage -- lifting it to $503.80 a week.

This moderate increase would maintain the value of minimum wages relative to other workers.

"The ACTU typically lodges a wage claim on behalf of low-paid Australians at around this time every year so it is not unusual timing for the AIRC to begin a wage case now.

"What is unusual is the gun that the Howard Government has put to the head of Industrial Relations Commission with its plan to take away the Commission's power to improve award wages and conditions and to set up instead a rival body - a so-called 'Fair Pay Commission'.

"Award workers deserve a decent pay rise and they deserve to have their wage cases heard by an independent umpire -- not a Government-appointed 'kangaroo court' as the 'Fair Pay Commission' is bound to be.

"The ACTU will argue that the 4% pay rise is modest and affordable. The economy is performing strongly with unemployment at 5%, GDP growth at 2.3%, job participation up to highest on record and company profits are also up 6.3% for the year."

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
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Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:19:22 EST

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