OUR PAY, OUR SAY!
Working hard and still falling behind?
Unions are calling on the Fair Work Commission to increase minimum and award wages by 6 per cent.
- Employers are seeking 3.5% that barely keeps up with inflation
- UWU members’ stories reveal the urgency of a wage increase
- Fair Work is considering a further pay boost for many sectors covered by UWU
Each financial year, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) conducts its Annual Wage Review. From around March each year, employers and workers’ representatives submit their arguments for what the increase should be and an announcement is made in June. Wage increases begin from the first full pay cycle after the 1st July in the following financial year (2026-27). This year, Australian Unions, including United Workers Union, are asking for a 6 per cent increase, this would mean an increase of over $3000 per year for workers on the minimum wage.
How UWU members contribute to annual wage increases
The FWC reviews Australia’s minimum wage against inflation, the cost of living and our economy.
To ensure our members living standards are considered and their stories are heard, UWU makes a submission after talking to workers in the industries we cover about how far their wages are stretching. Here are some of the stories you told us.
“We’re all struggling with petrol prices right now…”
Silvana works in aged care, assisting elderly people in their homes. This comes with a lot of travel and Silvana says it will cost her more to go to work than what she would earn if petrol stays at the current price.
‘I’m looking at having to get a second job because I’ve just not got enough money to live on…”
Katlyn is an early childhood educator and is paid approximately $33.01 per hour under the Children Services Award. She is married with no children and her husband earns more than she does, but she says they are “still struggling”.
“Workers who are feeling sick can’t afford to take time off”
Judith works as a school cleaner. She and her coworkers rely on shift penalties to boost their hourly rate. She says when she’s on sick leave, their hourly rate goes back down to the base rate. The high price of petrol doesn’t help.
“We rely on the part time and early shift work loadings… Because I work a split shift, I have to drive to work twice each day, which means I have a 90km round trip … If petrol prices keep going up then any wage increase will have to go towards fuel money, just to get to work…”
Extra boost needed for low-paid industries
Our members are still behind on wages following the last spike in inflation after COVID. The FWC will be considering a further boost for 200,000 workers on top of the general increase.
Key sectors that will be looked at are many covered by UWU – hospitality, retail, cleaning, healthcare and farms. Employers may be worried about a double increase, but the fact is, they’ve had it good so far and now it’s time for workers to benefit from their own hard work.
Care sector pay boost from 1st April welcome
While we wait for the Annual Wage Review announcement, we can be reassured that for many of our members a key wage increase to several modern awards will take effect to address gender-based undervaluation.
Thanks to the hard work and campaigning by UWU members in aged care and early education, this much needed pay boost is now a reality.
Employers’ ask for 3.5% doesn’t cut it
The call from the business lobby barely keeps up with inflation and in a time of volatile economy and global conflict, this will not cut it.
Every year, employers threaten that a wage increase will kick-start a massive increase in unemployment, but this has never happened.
Tell us your story
If you’re a member, or you work in one of the industries we cover, we want to hear from you. What difference would a 6% wage increase make for you?