Working people can win higher wages through the Fair Work Commission
Each year the Fair Work Commission reviews the minimum wage, and the wages contained in awards, which impact millions of Australian workers.
Following the economic shock of the pandemic, prices of basic goods and services have been rapidly increasing. To ensure that the wages keep pace with these price increases, and working people like you and your family don't go backwards, wages must increase.
Your union is the Together Branch of the ASU. Together members are focusing on ensuring that workers in admin get a fair wage increase, and that those people who have been working from home during the pandemic are not disadvantaged.
Your voice needs to be heard.
How workers argue for higher wages
The Fair Work Commission has commenced the process for 2022 Annual Wage Adjustment. This is a process through which you, and workers like you, argue through their unions for higher wages for working people in Australia.
The Australian Services Union will be making a submission in 2022 on behalf of admin staff across Australia who are paid award wages, or who have the annual increases applied to them.
The process for the Fair Work Commission in 2022
Stage 1: Deciding on the claim
Workers determine the union position
The ACTU and unions have been preparing arguments for a fair wage increase for working people in Australia.
The ASU is surveying admin workers on the impact that higher prices is having on them. Members will determine the ASU claim after the ACTU has completed the research phase of the case preparation.
A text based ballot of workers will occur in late March to determine the ASU position.
Stage 2: Submissions lodged with Commission
Submissions due 1 April
The ACTU, the ASU and other unions are required to make their submissions by 1 April.
The employers and government are also required to make submissions at that time.
The employer organisations have normally argued for wage increase below inflation or sometimes no increases or delayed increases.
Stage 3: Arguing the case for a pay rise
Submissions in reply
Given the impact of the pandemic and also the changing nature of work, the question of working from home and what that means for admin staff across the economy is likely to be a point of contention again this year.
You and your colleagues, through your union, will need to confront any arguments put forward by employers about why admin staff should not get a fair wage increase.
Stage 4: Fair Work Commission hearings
Hearings are a consultation process
The Fair Work Commission has scheduled a hearing as part of the Annual Wage Adjustment process as well as having written submissions from unions and employers. This means representatives go in and verbally argue their case, presenting witnesses including experts and people like you - working people who need a pay rise.
Stage 5: Considering the latest economic data
Final submissions
Given the importance of the Annual Wage Adjustment to millions of Australian workers, the Fair Work Commission allows the parties to the case to make further submissions late in the process on the latest economic data.
This helps the decisions stay up to date - a lot can change between April and July.
Stage 6: Decision on pay rises released
Operative date for increases
While the normal practice has been that wage increases are awarded from the 1 July each year that has not always been the case, with some variation by award or industry.
The normal situation is that the decision is released in June and applies to wage from the start of July. During the pandemic wage increases were delayed.
Submissions due to be lodged in:
"For me, being a part of my union is about being a part of making real change in both my industry and the world around us. I'm a proud Together member because Together has a long history of fighting for what is right, both in workplaces and as part of the wider union movement."
Erin
Together Vice President