February 8, 2017
Queensland apprentices could be owed millions in back pay after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) found they have been paid under the wrong award for the past three years.
On Tuesday the FWC dismissed an appeal by All Trades Queensland against a 2016 decision in the workers’ favour.
Electrical Trades Union Queensland and NT Apprentices Officer Scott Reichman said the ruling proved the ETU’s argument that thousands of apprentices across Queensland have been paid under inferior state awards since the start of 2014.
The FWC ruled last year that All Trades Queensland’s apprentices agreement should be measured against the national modern award of $12.66 an hour, not the state award of $8.75.
Mr Reichman said the decision made it clear the modern award should have applied to all Queensland apprentices since January 1, 2014.
Yet All Trades Queensland’s EBA pays just $9.75 an hour to apprentices.
The ETU says as many as 2000 electrical apprentices around the state could be under-paid by up to $4 an hour due to the ruling.
Scott Reichman urged all electrical apprentices paid on the award to contact the union to investigate any potential underpayment.
“There are about 1800 electrical apprentices in group training organisations across Queensland – and potentially thousands employed by small contractors – that are being paid under the state award, which is more than $100 a week less than the poverty line,” he said.
“We have argued this kind of exploitation of apprentices has been driving young people away from our industry as they struggle to afford to pay for transport, food or rent.
“It has now been proven this is the wrong award, and we want to ensure our most vulnerable workers are being paid the correct rate.
“We encourage any apprentices who are unsure whether they are being paid at the right rate to contact the ETU office as soon as possible to begin pursuing their entitlements.”
The ETU acknowledged the decision was the culmination of the combined efforts of the ETU, AMWU, Plumbers Union and CFMEU, with apprentices across all these trades benefitting.
Apprentices can contact the ETU office on (07) 3844-9851 or by email.
