Are Shearers Being Fleeced?

Date: 22 April 2002

The Australian Workers Union today released the first major national survey of Shearers at the Rural Press Club in Melbourne.

The survey reveals insights into one of Australia's oldest trades, including some findings that are damning for the industry's future if not fixed.

Among the findings were:

* 87 per cent of Shearers didn't believe their income would provide them with a comfortable retirement
* 70 per cent of Shearers would not encourage their friends, family or children to follow in their career footsteps and become a Shearer
* 68 per cent believed they were forced to travel much more in recent years, and 61 per cent said their job had a bad or very bad impact on their personal lives.
* It found the future of the industry is under threat with one in three Shearers aged over 46 years.

AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten said the AWU had developed a strategy to improve the minimum standards in the Pastoral Award. "Through the Australian Industrial Relations Commission the union will fight for financial recognition of the extra work created by the increased size of the sheep and seek to provide an allowance for tool maintenance and improved travel allowance," he said.

Mr Shorten said the union is applying to have the casual loading increased 25 per cent, and we will ensure employers are complying with the law by paying the compulsory eight per cent superannuation.

For further information

Contact:	Andrea Carson
Union:	Australian Workers Union (National Office)
Phone:	039 3298733
Contact Mobile:	0407 041933
Email:	awu@iprimus.com.au
WWW:	www.awu.net.au

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