Every year, the Fair Work Commission reviews the national minimum wage and award wages via the Annual Wage Review. And every year, the union movement calls a fair and decent increase.

Australia’s lowest-paid workers need an above-inflation pay rise, as landlords put up rent and banks, supermarkets and energy companies continue to pump up prices to inflate their mega-profits.

We are talking about a pay rise for hospo and retail workers; disability and healthcare workers, who are renters and mortgage owners – not for high earners with large numbers of investment properties.

An increase of 5% would bring the minimum wage to $26.19 per hour – for perspective, the entire 5% wage claim for nearly three million workers will cost less than the recent $8 billion half-yearly profits of BHP.

Every worker has the right to live a decent life with fair pay for their work. But pay rises don’t just happen. They’re won.

Union members fought hard to set this minimum standard and continue to fight for increases that workers need and deserve. Are you with us?