Casual workers pay increases

Date: 02 April 2002

Up to 250,000 casual workers employed under State Awards in Queensland will receive a pay increase this week.

Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) Assistant General Secretary Chris Barrett said the increase is part of the phasing in period for the landmark union case winning pay increases for casual workers.

"The minimum level of casual loading was increased from 19% to 23% or about $20 -$25 per week. Today's increase will bring casual loading to 23%," Mr Barrett said.

"Since the increases in casual pay rates, some employers have shown more interest in workers' needs for job security and are offering permanent and regular part-time jobs instead of insecure casual work," he said.

"One in three workers in Queensland are casual. This figure puts Queensland amongst the highest in the world," Mr Barrett said.

"Unions are continuing to fight to improve wages and conditions for casuals, in particular pursuing employers who have casual employees for years on end and still deny permanent status," he said.

"Casual workers miss out on job security, financial stability, public holidays, annual leave, sick leave, family leave, bereavement leave, severance pay, training and career progression," Mr Barrett said.

"Queensland unions report a growth in union membership amongst casuals and success in improving casual workers conditions," he said.

"Last year casual union members earned 16.2% or $64 per week more than non-members," he said.

The QCU will continue to push the rights of casual workers which includes improvements to termination, change and redundancy entitlements.

For further information

Contact:	Liz Phillips
Union:	Queensland Council of Unions
Phone:	07 3846 2468
Contact Mobile:	0407 624 475
Email:	lizp@qcu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qcu.asn.au

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