General

Fair Pay Commission considers pay rise

As submissions close today (Friday) for the Fair Pay Commission's 2008 minimum wage deliberations, the ACTU repeats its call for a $26 a week pay rise for the low paid, rejecting bids by employer groups for real pay cuts for minimum wage workers.

Unions are particularly outraged by the employer association representing the Restaurant and Catering industry calling for a 7% cut in payments for casual workers and no increase in the minimum wage:

"The peak national Association representing restaurateurs and caterers has suggested that no increase in the minimum wage level is required... The Association [also] made the point in the submission that the casual penalty rate should be lowered to 13% (from 20%)." Restaurant and Catering Australia, 13 March 2008.

Jeff Lawrence, ACTU Secretary said:

"It is unacceptable for major employers to propose that low paid workers should not get a pay rise or that casual workers should suffer pay cuts.

"Petrol, housing and other basic living costs are all going up. What will families live on if they don't get a pay rise?

"It's also very unfair considering the salaries of executives went up a massive 30% last year and even the head of the Fair Pay Commission got a $38,000 pay rise that was 16 times the rate of inflation.

"The proposal by employers in the restaurant and catering industry for a 7% pay cut for casual workers would hurt a lot of young people as well as women who rely on casual work in cafes and restaurants and at catering outlets across Australia, including at the MCG and other sporting venues.

"The proposed 7% cut in pay could mean a pay cut of almost $40 a week -- or $2,000 a year -- for a full time adult working casually in a restaurant.

"Another employer group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has also called on the Fair Pay Commission to give low paid workers just $10 a week. In real terms this would be another significant pay cut that would see the living standards of many working families continue to go backwards.

"The Australian public voted to get rid of Work Choices so that their living standards would be protected.

"Many employers simply haven't got the message from the Australian people and are still trying to make record profits and give excessive bonuses to CEOs at the expense of ordinary workers," said Mr Lawrence.

The ACTU also welcomed news today that an actor who appeared in a Howard Government WorkChoices ad has been fined for ripping off young employees and ordered to pay more than $14,000 to two youths employed in his painting business.

Available on the ACTU website:
ACTU Factsheet on the Minimum Wage

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

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20080314_pay.html
Last Modified: 14 Mar 2008