News Release

 

SA WORKERS WIN RISE, BUT MANY MIS OUT

 

 

 

5 July 2006

 

SA Unions has welcomed a decision by the South Australian Industrial Relations Commission to approve the Unions' application for state award workers to be granted a pay rise.

 

SA Unions sought a 4% rise, which would equate to about $20 a week for a worker on the $484 minimum weekly wage.  The Commission has decided to award $17 a week for low paid workers earning up to $570 a week, and $18 a week for workers earning over $570 a week.

 

The decision is good news for about 80,000 low paid workers in areas such as restaurants, cafes, agriculture, and unincorporated businesses.

 

However, SA Unions President, Nick Thredgold says he is disappointed that another 160,000 of South Australians will miss out of their rightful rise because they have been absorbed into the federal system as a result of the harsh new IR laws.

 

That is in addition to 100,000 people on federal awards who have also had their wages frozen by the federal government.

 

"These people are valuable contributors to our way of life.  They are our aged care workers, our disability workers, our child care workers, our cleaners - they deserve fair wages for their efforts."

 

"It is unfair and discriminatory.  260,000 low paid SA workers have had their wages frozen while 80,000 who have managed to remain in the state system have been granted a much needed wage rise," Mr Thredgold says.

 

"Working families are struggling to make ends meet and this wage rise for the lowest paid is absolutely vital.  It is insulting and injurious that a whole swathe of the workforce is denied a fair wage rise on the federal government's whim."

 

"It is clear that those behind the draconian new laws have absolutely no idea what it is like to keep a house, raise a family, pay bills, put food on the table and cover health, transport and other living expenses on $484 a week."

 

"The State IRC has made an independent assessment of South Australian workers and found in favour of a moderate wage rise.  SA Unions is urging employers to do the right thing and negotiate collective agreements to ensure workers get a fair wage increase.  It would help those 260,000 workers to keep pace with the rising cost of living and earn them respect as fair and decent employers", Mr Thredgold says.