
Issue No 76		03 November 2000

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News

Unions Seek Community Backing For $28 Pay Rise

The ACTU will seek the support of community and church groups for a fair pay rise for the lower paid in this year's Living Wage case. ACOSS has already shown its support.

Secretary Greg Combet announced this week that unions will seek a $28 a week pay rise for low-paid workers who have been hit hard by rising petrol prices, GST price increases and interest rates hikes.

Launching the ACTU's Living Wage Claim 2001 in Melbourne, Combet described the $28 claim as fair, reasonable and affordable.

"The economy may be doing well but many low-paid workers are being left behind. They missed out under the Government's tax cuts and now face $1 petrol, GST price hikes and climbing interest rates. They need a decent pay rise just to make ends meet," he said.

"Workers on the minimum wage of $400 a week got a paltry $9 tax cut under Mr Howard's tax package. That disappears after one trip to the petrol pump."

Greg Combet said that the claim would benefit almost 2 million workers, many of whom are women, casual and part-time employees in industries like hospitality, retail, cleaning, childcare and the clothing trades.

"Low-paid workers are doing it tough. The insurance bill has gone up 30%, gas and electricity is up 12%, petrol and cigarettes cost 20% more and a trip to the take-away with the kids now costs 10% more. Yet many of these workers have had just one $15 pay rise in the past year.

"It is the height of hypocrisy for politicians like Peter Costello who got a $62 tax cut and is in-line for an automatic $140 a week pay rise next year, to argue that low-paid workers shouldn't get a pay rise."

Under the claim award rates of less than $490 would increase by a flat $28 ensuring that the lowest paid receive the most benefit from increases. Award rates above $490 would be increased by 5.7% to make sure that all Award rates remain a relevant safety net for workers in higher skilled occupations.

Combet said the claim would not put pressure on inflation or interest rates calculating the effect of the claim on Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings would be less than 0.25% with an overall effect on inflation of around 0.1%.

"It's the GST, not wages, that is driving inflation up. The low-paid who got so little under the Government's tax package need a pay increase to meet the rising cost of living.

"Australia is experiencing one of the longest periods of economic growth in its history. Company profits grew 44% last year and our top executives have helped themselves to a 285% pay rise since 1990. I think there is an expectation in the community that low-paid workers and their families start getting a fair share of that prosperity. We will be calling on employers and the Federal Government to support our claim.

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  Issue 76 contents

Interview: Withering On The Vine
Cooking shows and 'Bugs fucking to Mozart' may become the staple diet on our ABC as news and current affairs face a war of attrition. Quentin Dempster gives Workers Online an insider's view of our endangered national broadcaster .

US Election: Sugar Candy Politics
Like in everything else, Americans like their politics sugar coated. A Nation in denial, they are happier maintaining the fantasy that the world is a fine and dandy place says Michael Gadiel.

US Election: George W. Bushwhacked by Texas Truth Squad
The Texas Truth Squad are a group of Texan union members travelling the US on a crusade to expose the Republican presidential nominee as a corporate rogue who in his time as Governer proved himself as an enemy of the worker.

History: Federation and the Labour Movement
National celebrations will mark the Centenary of Federation next year. The labour movement's opposition to Federation at the referenda held around the Australian colonies in 1899 will attract less commemoration, although the republicans of 1999 might have benefited from reflection on the causes of working class discontent one hundred years earlier says Stuart Macintyre.

International: Unions Mac Their Day
McDonald's - the biggest employer of young people around the world - is increasingly becoming the target of union recognition campaigns, backed by human rights groups concerned about the fast food chains practices in countries such as Indonesia, China, Russia, Canada and Germany.

Satire: Wiranto�s charity album inspires genocidal maniacs everywhere
Indonesia�s favourite former strongman, General Wiranto, has recently decided to record an album of love songs. Entitled To You My Indonesia, Wiranto�s album has already sold 8,000 copies and is raising money for refugees.

Review: What About the Workers?
A big, gruff bloke in a blue singlet, on strike or just not working, and generally being difficult. That's the trade unionist for you. Barry Cohen's new book What About the Workers? shows this image may have a bit of truth about it, but he would be telling a few good yarns while he was standing about.

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