General

Pay Equity

ABS: Working families wages cut

New ABS data on Average Weekly Earnings released today (22 Feb.) reveal that Australian working families are suffering under the new IR laws with average weekly earnings for full time employees failing to keep up with the cost of living.

ABS data on Average Weekly Earnings released today show:

• Total earnings for full time workers dropped in real terms by 0.6% in the past year. (While earnings rose in nominal terms by 2.6% in the past year they failed to keep pace with inflation at 3.3%.)

• Workers in the private sector have been hit hard with a 1.1% drop in real average earnings.

• Women working full time in the private sector have suffered a 1.8% drop in real earnings.

Commenting on the data today, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said:

"These figures are clear evidence that working families are going backwards under the Government's IR laws.

These IR laws are a huge free kick for big business but it is at the expense of working families.

This is the third quarter in row since the new IR laws came in that has seen real average earnings for full time workers drop below the cost of living for the previous 12 month period.

Working families are already struggling to keep their heads above water and the last thing they can afford is a real drop in their take home pay, but that is exactly what is happening under the new IR laws," said Mr Combet.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20070222_wages.html
Last Modified: 22 Feb 2007