{"id":319707,"date":"2022-06-15T13:30:54","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T03:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=319707"},"modified":"2022-06-16T17:07:05","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T07:07:05","slug":"40-pay-rise-for-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/06\/15\/40-pay-rise-for-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"$40 Pay Rise For Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ACTU Secretary Sally McManus (Photo: Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 15, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Fair Work Commission has lifted wages for 2.7 million Australians: 5.2 per cent for workers on the minimum wage and 4.6 per cent for employees on awards.<\/p>\n

The annual wage review decision, announced on Wednesday, has lifted minimum hourly payments from $20.33 an hour to $21.38.<\/p>\n

The ACTU says the decision will put an extra $40 a week in the pocket of a full-time worker on the minimum wage.<\/p>\n

Unions had called for a 5.5 per cent increase while some employer groups had suggested either no rise or a limited rises of up to 3.2 per cent.<\/p>\n

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said the union movement had fought hard for this increase.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it were not for unions, with employers pushing for big real wage cuts, Australian working people and their families would see no relief from cost-of-living pressures,” Ms McManus said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Annual Wage Review is one tool we have to generate wage growth but it only affects one-in-four workers \u2013 we need wage growth across the economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cClearly the current system is failing. It is unable to deliver wage increases despite low unemployment, high productivity and high profits.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur country needs to take a fresh look at this problem and address it. It is not acceptable that working Australians and their families continue to go backwards while big business does so well.”<\/p>\n

The ACTU believes as many as 8.5 million Australian workers will not benefit from Wednesday’s decision.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Electrical Trades Union says Wednesday’s decision has failed the needs of apprentices.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The union says a First Year electrical apprentice who already earns less than 60 per cent of the minimum wage will receive just $20.69 per week extra.<\/p>\n

In fact, from July 1, a first year apprentice electrician\u2019s wages would decrease from 58.2 per cent of the minimum wage to 57.9 per cent.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just got harder for an apprentice electrician to complete their training,\u201d acting ETU national secretary Michael Wright said.<\/p>\n

Apprentice completion rates currently sit at only 52 per cent.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis country needs to get serious about skilling up Australians,” Mr Wright said.<\/p>\n

“Thanks to this decision you earn more working two weekend penalty rate shifts on minimum wage than you do for a full week as an apprentice.<\/p>\n

“No wonder our completion rates are a disgrace. Young workers are having to quit their trade just to make ends meet. <\/p>\n

“This is bad news for them, bad news for the industry and bad news for the nation.”<\/p>\n