Wage crisis continues, public sector wage growth lowest on record

Media Release - February 19, 2020

The Morrison Government’s wage growth crisis continues with figures released this morning showing that overall wage growth is stagnant at 2.2 per cent, with public sector wage growth slumping to the same rate, the lowest ever for public sector workers since measurements began in 1997.

This latest update confirms the Morrison government’s 100 per cent failure rate on achieving the wages growth targets it has set in the budget. The Coalition has failed to achieve a single wages growth target during its three terms in office and is actively undermining attempts to lift wages.

The Morrison Government has overseen seven years of record low wage growth which has left millions of working Australian’s struggling to make ends meet.

The Morrison Government has consistently refused to support increases to the minimum wage or award system or increasing bargaining power for working people. These are pragmatic measures which could reverse the trend of wage growth in this country.

Quotes attributable to ACTU Secretary Sally McManus

“Australian workers haven’t seen a real pay rise in seven years. Public sector workers are now dealing with the lowest wage growth in more than two decades. The Morrison Government has fundamentally failed to improve the living conditions of Australian workers.

“Under this Government we see working families raiding whatever long-term savings they have left to pay for essential items, while the Morrison government continues to undermine public sector wages and attack unions that try to improve job security and lift wages.

“The only wage growth we have seen under this Government has come from working people organising in their unions to win wage rises through collective agreements and improve the national minimum wage. National wage growth will improve when working people are given more power to bargain for secure jobs and wage rises. The first step if for the Morrison Government to stop attacking unions and start helping working people.”

The ACTU Network

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