Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus says the union movement had to fight through “heavy crosswinds” to secure the.
During a press conference a short while ago,McManus said the rise,which equates to about $40 extra a week,would make a difference to struggling low-paid workers.
“While it’s not exactly what we wanted,we welcome this increase because we know that it’s actually going to make a big,big difference to 25 per cent of the workforce,” she said.
“We are talking about millions of people and their families that will have a better chance of being able to afford the groceries,their rent,their petrol and their energy bills.
“If you’re on the absolute minimum,all of your wage is spent on the basics … so that amount per week is going to mean that people will actually be able to buy the food they need for their families as opposed to having to cut back.”
McManus also rebuffed comments from employers that the wage increase would set them back,saying that profits for most businesses were up by 20 per cent. Productivity was also high,while unemployment had plummeted,she added.
University student Jordan,who works in a fast food outlet to pay the bills,said the increase was a big relief that would help him pay for groceries.
“It means that I’m going to be able to confidently work knowing that I’m going to have the bare minimum covered and that hasn’t always been the case,” he said.
“Every week pretty much is a struggle. You don’t know what you’re going to be able to afford and what you’re going to have to cut week to week.”