Industrial Relations

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daniel.wurm
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Industrial Relations

Post by daniel.wurm » Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:38 am

The Australia Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) launched a case to increase apprentices' minimum wages at the Fair Work Commission recently.

ACTU Secretary David Oliver says "The pay rates don't reflect the reality that many apprentices are adults and have adult responsibilities like kids and a mortgage.The wages are currently less than the minimum wage and sometimes only slightly higher than the Newstart allowance. They don't provide enough money for apprentices to survive."

Mr Oliver says more apprentices are dropping out of their training because of low wages. "We have employers complaining about apprentices not completing their courses but many apprentices can't because they're simply not paid enough."

Mr Oliver says unions want increased pay for all apprentices and for those over 20 to be paid the same rate as the lowest adult classification in the relevant award.

Employer unions such as Master Painters are fighting the wage raise. What do you think?
Are 1st and 2nd year apprentice painters paid enough?

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