IRC Determines Pay Increase

Date: 08 June 2007

The NSW Industrial Relations Commission will hand down its decision on the minimum wage this morning in a determination that will affect more than 240,000 workers immediately and around 700,000 other NSW workers covered by state awards.

State wage case decision - NSW Industrial Relations Commission
10:00am, Friday 8th June
John Robertson, secretary Unions NSW and a worker affected by the decision will be available for comment immediately following the judgement (10:20am)

Secretary of Unions NSW John Robertson said today's decision is particularly important given the rising cost of living in NSW.

"Petrol prices remain sky high, families are paying more than ever at the supermarket and housing affordability continues to be a huge issue for ordinary workers in the cities and regions," said Mr Robertson.

"Unfortunately many minimum wage earners in NSW will not benefit from today's decision because they are not protected by the state award safety net."

"Low wage earners covered by Federal awards will have to sit tight and wait and see whether or not the Fair Pay Commission - part of the Howard Government's Work Choices laws - freezes wages for 18 months as it did last time."

Workers for whom today's decision will deliver wage increases are workers not employed by a constitutional corporation - mostly employees in the hospitality, retail, childcare and community sectors working in small businesses.

Media contacts: John Robertson on 0407 457 838 or Lucy Muirhead on
0402 730 710.

For further information

Contact:	Peter Lewis
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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