About $12 million in pay rises have been won through United Workers Union (UWU), thanks to Same Job, Same Pay reforms delivered by the Albanese Labor Government.
Orders won on behalf of members by United Workers Union, largely in logistics sheds, adds to the tens of millions of dollars in pay rises won by workers in mining, construction, the meat industry, retail sites and transport through their unions.
The laws were fought for by United Workers Union members and other unions across the country, making Same Job, Same Pay a reality.
Their efforts helped push the Albanese Labor Government to close loopholes that allowed major companies to pursue cost-cutting through ruthless labour-hire companies.
A United Workers Union review of Fair Work Commission outcomes found employees at major worksites including Australian Pharmaceuticals, DB Schenker, H&M, and Asahi Beverages are now earning thousands more each year thanks to the Same Job, Same Pay laws introduced in 2023.
The analysis found wage increases of up to $30,000 a year at Asahi Beverages, with workers at other sites such as H&M in Sydney and Australian Pharmaceuticals in Melbourne also seeing major jumps in pay.
“These reforms are doing exactly what they were designed to do – ending a broken system that let labour-hire companies undercut wages and exploit insecure work,” said Dario Mujkic, Director of Logistics, United Workers Union.
“Hundreds of workers have won substantial pay rises through Same Job, Same Pay legislation, which is transforming lives and workplaces.
“It made no sense that people doing the same job in the same shed were losing up to $30,000 a year in pay through the use of greedy, low-paying labour hire companies.
‘“Australians have had a gut full of the shady tactics used by big corporations to cut workers’ pay.”
Mel Gatfield, United Workers Union Director of Food and Beverage said the reforms were making a major difference in food and beverage production.
“These wins show the tangible results of union power – workers at food and beverage sites are now taking home thousands more each year because they stood together for fair pay and respect at work.
“We can now see the Same Job Same Pay legislation has helped even out the playing field, and has stopped companies from attacking workers’ pay.”
| Company / Site | Sector | Highest Pay Rise Granted | Total Pay Rise Value |
| Australian Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (Melbourne DC) | Pharmaceuticals/ Logistics |
$26,000 | $5.77 million |
| H&M (Marsden Park, NSW) | Retail/Distribution | $16,000 | $2.24 million |
| Ingram Micro Logistics (Eastern Creek, NSW) | Logistics | $17,000 | $2.29 million |
| Asahi Beverages (Albury & Huntingwood, NSW) | Food & Beverage | $30,000 | $1.13 million |
| DB Schenker (Redbank, QLD) | Logistics/ Warehousing |
$9,000 | $0.56 million |
| Total | $11.99 million | ||
Mr Mujkic added: “These results prove the power of workers standing together and the importance of reforms to get wages moving again.
“The Same Job, Same Pay laws are closing loopholes that allowed big companies to drive down wages, and they’re delivering for working people.”