Are you one of the workers who has just landed a pay rise? Here’s how to check

Published: 12/10/2022
Category: Minimum wage
Published: 12/10/2022
Category: Minimum wage

Do you work on a plane? Or in a café? Or conduct tours? If you work one of these jobs or one of the many others in aviation, hospitality, travel and tourism, you should have received a few extra dollars in your most recent pay slip.  

As of 1 October, workers in these industries have received a pay rise of 5.2 per cent across 10 Awards.  

You can find the full list here to see if your Award is included. If you’re not sure which Award you are on, you can check your employment contract or contact your union.

How did this increase happen?

If you are one of the workers who will be receiving the increase, then it’s your lucky day. But of course, these pay rises don’t just happen by chance. 

These wage increases are part of a much larger series of Award changes that were decided earlier this year in the Annual Wage Review.  

With around one in four workers in Australia relying on Award wages, the Review is a huge opportunity each year for union members to ramp up the pressure to achieve higher wages for the lowest paid workers in this country. 

The Fair Work Commission makes the final decision, but unions are one of the groups who provide submissions which propose by how much the FWC should increase wages.  

As the collective voice of almost two million workers, the union movement consistently suggests an increase that means workers can keep up with cost-of-living and ensure workers aren’t falling behind. 

But wage rises are not simply an annual event. The Review is just one way you can increase your pay. As a union member, there are multiple avenues for you to make sure you are on a decent income.  

Something not looking right? You know who to call

If you are covered by one of the 10 Awards that has been included in the October increase but the dollar figure in your pay slip hasn’t budged appropriately, then you may be facing a case of wage theft.  

When the numbers aren’t adding up, it’s time to make a call to your union. The best way to land a pay rise and protect yourself against wage theft is to be a union member

And wage increases certainly don’t just have to be an annual event. Enterprise bargaining agreements are one of the strongest ways workers can achieve ongoing pay rises. 

But Australian work laws are failing to keep up and only a small percentage of workers are covered by agreements. 

Wages have been frozen, or gone backwards, for over a decade now. And with the cost of living getting higher and higher, millions of working people are not able to keep up. 

If we want to fix our wages crisis, we need updated work and bargaining laws.

Australia needs a pay rise

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Are you one of the workers who has just landed a pay rise? Here’s how to check

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Are you one of the workers who has just landed a pay rise? Here’s how to check