ISSUES WE FIGHT FOR
Higher Wages
United Workers Union fights for, and wins, pay increases at the fair Work Commission and across the 45 industries we cover. When you're a union member, you're paid 32% more on average than non-union members.
Union members earn 32% more
Wages have not been keeping up with the cost of living and inflation. When our employers’ profits go up (thanks to the workers! ), productivity gains are not shared with workers through higher pay. That’s why being a union member is important, so that working people’s living standards improve.
Unions have a long history of campaigning for minimum pay increases, higher wages, and pay equality – and winning! UWU covers some of the lowest-paid workers across Australia. Together we’ve won historic pay increases that value our work, skills and expertise and reward us properly for it.
WHAT WE’VE WON
Pay increases for workers on awards and agreements
- Historic pay wins through collective and multi-employer bargaining
- Wage growth of an average of 4.2% for those covered by collective agreements – this may not sound like a lot, but that means thousands of dollars a year in higher wages.
- Unions campaigned for and won 3.5% increase to the national minimum wage in 2025.
- ECEC workers won a 15% historical pay increase in 2024.
- About $12 million in pay rises have been won through our union thanks to the Same Job, Same Pay legislation – these laws were fought for by UWU members and unions across the country making Same Job Same Pay a reality.
- Historic pay increases for UWU care workers; personal care workers won 13% (on top of an extra 15%!)
- Workers in cleaning, catering and laundries won a 7% pay increase
We still have more work to do to increase wages for working people. But it’s clear that when workers come together with their union, we have real power, and we win real change.
Whether it’s winning pay increases in agreements, better leave entitlements, winning back pay or being a part of a movement that fights for award minimum wage increases and legislation to protect and strengthens workers’ pay and conditions, you’re better off as a union member.