The Melbourne Institute has stated that productivity has become uncoupled from wage growth and the enterprise-only bargaining is failing to produce wage growth.

 “That’s not a good outcome because productivity is rising – workers are producing more every hour they work and they’re not sharing in the productivity growth. You can’t say the situation for workers is a good outcome.”

“Enterprise bargaining is not delivering,” he added.

 

Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus

“This confirms what all working people already know. People are working harder, for longer hours, but not getting more back in their pay packet. We need to change the rules.

“The Institute has joined the union movement in criticising the restrictive single-enterprise bargaining model. We need sector bargaining to give power back to working people.

“The cost of non-discretionary items is growing significantly faster than wages, which are going backwards in real terms for most workers.