Our Wins
Whether you work for a large company, for a government or non-profit organisation, or a small business, your union has your back. We look out for one another and share our experiences at work so that when things aren’t going right, we can make change.
In 2025, we won back more than $10 million in underpayments for our members, finalised 383 workplace agreements and delivered average wage increases of 3.56% which is higher than the national average. Below are some of our most recent wins in our largest industries.
Some Recent Wins
School cleaners in NSW brought back in-house after decades of contracting chaos
Hundreds of school cleaners are now employed directly by government schools in News South Wales, instead of through external companies – an achievement that has vastly improved job security, wages and restored dignity for these workers. This campaign finally put an end to contracting companies who cut corners for profit and devalued the input of cleaners as an integral part of any school community. School cleaners in Victoria, who have been overworked and underpaid with insecure contracts are now campaigning for a similar arrangement.
Full 27% gender undervaluation increase locked in
$12 million pay boost from Same Job Same Pay reforms
Warehouse workers from labour-hire companies were awarded salaries to match permanent staff, ending the unfair practice of companies using casual workers to undercut existing conditions won by unions. Some workers received pay jumps of up to $30k per year.
Aged Care Work Value Case wins up to 28.5% wage increases
Historic 5.75% increase to Minimum and Award wages in 2023
UWU’s submission to Fair Work, spotlighting our members’ voices and lived experience of earning minimum and award wages during a prolonged cost of living crisis and rising inflation was instrumental in achieving this historic wage increase. Subsequent years delivered increases of 3.75% in 2024. and 3.5% in 2025. Our commitment to improving standards of living through much-needed increases to minimum and award wages means all wages has a flow-on effect that lifts all wages.
25% pay increase for 6000 public sector workers
Public sector disability and health support workers in South Australia won a 25% pay increase over three years of their workplace agreement. It’s the largest wage increase in Australia’s public sector we’ve ever hear of.
Lifting industry standards through the establishment of the Cleaning Accountability Framework (CAF)
But wait! There’s more…
UWU’s campaigning for workplace reform have made real change to workers’ lives and livelihoods, such as portable long service leave and the criminalisation of wage theft.
These pay rises, workplace reforms and health and safety measures for workers run alongside hundreds of campaigns and bargaining at smaller workplaces every year, where UWU members band together to demand respect for the work they do.
Join United Workers Union to discover how you can get involved in negotiating and winning higher wages and better conditions at your workplace.