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SA
WORKERS
DESERVE
AT LEAST
THE
NATIONAL
WAGE
9
July 2008
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The national
decision to
award
minimum wage
earners a
$21.66 a
week wage
rise has
encouraged
SA Unions to
push ahead
for its
original $26
a week
application.
That would
mean South
Australian
minimum wage
earners
would go
from $522.15
a week to
$548.15 a
week.
SA Unions
Secretary,
Janet Giles
says the
state wage
application
was lodged
in early
April.
"The ACTU
sought $26 a
week and got
$21.66.
Here in
South
Australia,
we continue
to seek $26
a week,
given our
CPI rate at
4.6% is
ahead of the
national
cost of
living
index."
"Additionally
WA which has
a similar
economy to
our state,
awarded its
workers $29
a week."
"Ideally, we
would like
to see the
return of an
independent
wage fixing
system that
examines
fairness and
cost of
living as
the basis of
their
decision
making.
It's time to
hand back
this
important
role to the
Industrial
Relations
commission -
as a
continuation
of the
dismantling
of the
discredited
and damaging
workchoices
system."
"Given the
recent
interest
rate rises,
the soaring
cost of fuel
and
explosion in
the cost of
living, we
need a swift
and fair
ruling to
help
struggling
South
Australians
make ends
meet."
"The much
vaunted
mining and
defence
booms will
do little
for those
scraping by
on the bare
minimum.
We have a
social
responsibility
to look
after all in
our society,
including
those on the
lowest
wages."
"The Fair
Pay
Commission's
ruling goes
some way
towards
undoing the
damage of
the
horrendous
WorkChoices
era - and
there is no
doubt the
struggling
families of
Australia
will be
breathing a
sigh of a
relief that
the FPC
didn't cave
in to
employer
demands to
cap the
increase to
a measly $10
a week. The
need for a
safety net
for the low
paid has
been
recognised
federally,
the same
must happen
in south
Australia",
Ms Giles
says. |
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Community Meetings:
Regular community meetings are being held in the areas of Makin, Wakefield or Kingston. Come along, bring your friends and family to discuss issues facing workers today.
Contact SA Unions for the dates of the next meetings
saunions@saunions.org.au
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