Reform Living Wage Case

Date: 05 May 2004

The $19 Living Wage case decision handed down this morning underlines the need for Australia to consider major reforms to the current process, LHMU National Secretary, Jeff Lawrence, said today. The LHMU is the national union voice for low-paid workers.

" Our members - hospitality workers, cleaners, child care workers, aged care workers, security workers, parking attendants - will be disappointed that this annual wage fixing process is still only delivering a bare minimum.

" We want the Federal Government to commit itself to a real living wage not a bare minimum.

" The Senate Poverty Inquiry earlier this year called for a new Living Wage benchmark and an inquiry into the crisis of low pay. The Federal Government failed these workers by refusing to support a real wage increase before the Industrial Relations Commission.

" The failure of the Howard Government to address the real needs of families struggling on the bare minimum should be laid out before the electorate in the coming Federal election.

" When the Australian economy is booming we should be able to sit down and talk about the real reforms our society needs to put into place to deliver a real living wage - rather than leaving decent Australians to struggle on the bare minimum.

" Voters should be given alternative visions on how our community should tackle this national crisis," Jeff Lawrence, LHMU National Secretary, said today.

Note: Low paid workers, members of the LHMU Victorian branch , were at the Commission in Melbourne to hear the decision.

For their reaction please contact Victorian Assistant Branch Secretary, Jane Farrell 03 9235 7777 or 0425 755 903.

For further information contact: Jeff Lawrence, LHMU National Secretary, 042 524 2724

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