SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas says the SDA will be doing everything they can to protect the wages and entitlements of workers during the Productivity Commission’s review into workplace relations.
“We’ve had 22 consecutive quarters of labour productivity growth and at the same time we’ve had the lowest wage increases recorded in history according to the ABS.
“But it’s still not enough for Tony Abbott who now wants to go after the minimum wage and penalty rates for low paid workers.
“Low paid workers absolutely cannot afford a reduction in pay, in 2014 wages growth in Australia fell below inflation and was at its lowest in 17 years.
“Expanding the middle class by paying decent wages is essential to a growing economy.
“Any move to cut wages at this time is disgraceful and the SDA will be working hard to ensure this doesn’t happen as a result of the Review,”
“Unfortunately the papers issued by the Productivity Commission yesterday indicate that everything is up for grabs including penalty rates and the minimum wage,” said Mr Malinauskas.
The SDA will be making all the necessary submissions to the Productivity Commission during the Review to advocate the interests of workers.
It will also be providing evidence to protect the basic entitlements of workers.
Peter Malinauskas says the Review is a scary reminder of the Howard Government’s WorkChoices regime, which stripped away the rights of Australian workers across the country.