Fed: Living wage claim of $24 due to start in commission

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-1999
Fed: Living wage claim of $24 due to start in commission

MELBOURNE, Dec 6 AAP - The Australian Industrial Relations Commission in Melbourne
is today due to start hearing the ACTU's so-called living wage claim for an extra $24
a week for Australian workers.

If approved by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, the claim would increase
minimum award rates to slightly less than $410 a week.

In a statement, the ACTU described the claim as "fair, moderate and economically affordable"

aimed at lifting minimum award wages to benefit low-paid workers.

Based on the commission's attitude to previous ACTU claims, this year's is unlikely
to be accepted in full, but more likely to be halved.

Last year's $26.60 a week claim was knocked down to $12 by the commission, a 1998 claim
of $20.60 came back as $14, while the $20 claim of 1997 was neatly halved.

AAP gf/jnb

KEYWORD: WAGES (CARRIED EARLIER)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.