Qld: Highest ever rise for Queensland's lowest paid

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2007
Qld: Highest ever rise for Queensland's lowest paid

BRISBANE, Aug 24 AAP - Queensland's lowest paid workers have been awarded a $24.60-a-week
pay rise, the state's highest ever wage adjustment.

The full bench of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission today made the ruling,
which takes the state's minimum wage to $528.40 per week.

The case affects about 150,000 Queensland workers employed by small businesses such
as family-owned retail stores, coffee shops and fruit farms, which are not covered by
the federal industrial relations system.

Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) had argued a $28-a-week increase was needed to offset
rising food and fuel costs and interest rate hikes.

The commission determined that Queensland's buoyant economic environment could cope
with a $24 increase.

QCU general secretary Grace Grace said the rise was "fair and just".

"These low-paid workers deserve to share in the spoils of the booming Queensland economy
and we congratulate the commission on delivering a fair and just wage increase for these
workers," she said.

Ms Grace said the decision was in contrast to recent "miserly" increases awarded by
the Australian Fair Pay Commission.

AAP gd/pjo/cp/de

KEYWORD: WAGE

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