Today over 60,000 retail workers receive a pay rise that was fought for by their Union, the SDA – that’s over $550,000 in the pockets of hardworking South Australians and their families each week.
6,000 retail workers in the Northern Territory also get a pay rise today, which means an extra $84,000 each week going to Territory workers.
If you’re an SDA member who received a pay rise this month, log into the Members’ Area to view your new rate of pay.
SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas says not only do retail workers need this pay rise but it also means there’s an extra $550,000 per week going back into the South Australian economy.
“Retail workers need these wage increases today because the cost of living continues to go up and there is enormous pressure on working families to make ends meet.
“The SDA works extremely hard to make sure retail workers receive fair and decent wage increases and as a result over 60,000 workers get a pay rise today that amounts to an estimated $30 million over the current financial year.
“The SDA understands strong economies are underpinned by an expanding middle class not a growing working poor like in the United States.
“There are plenty of naysayers out there who will try and tell you that increasing workers’ wages is bad for business but when those workers spend that extra money, it’s going right back into South Australia’s economy,” said Peter.
The SDA protects and improves pay and entitlements for workers by negotiating Workplace Agreements but it also makes sure retail workers covered by the Retail Award receive fair and decent wages and conditions.
“Pay rises such as these are especially vital for workers as employer lobby groups have well and truly stepped up their campaign to abolish penalty rates,” said Peter.
If you received a pay rise in July – log in here to see your new rate of pay.
