UWU calls for 4.5 per cent award wage increase   
May 25 2025
United Workers Union.
Each year in June, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) reviews minimum and award wages to decide whether they should be increased. United Workers Union (UWU) member stories inform this decision. The Albanese government says an increase should not be below 3 per cent – UWU says it should be at least 4.5 per cent.

In the lead-up to the FWC’s annual Minimum Wage Review, UWU makes its annual submission to the FWC to push for a decent wage increase for our members.


First, we reach out to our members and ask for your experiences with the cost of living, and whether your wages are enough to cover everyday costs. We compile your stories and add them to our own research on the current economic climate, so we can see the whole picture.

We look at inflation rates and trends and assess whether wages are keeping up – we call this ‘real wage growth’. We add all this information to our submission to FWC’s Minimum Wage Review to advocate strongly for a realistic – and highest possible – wage increase.

The Minimum Wage Review is approaching and we’re making sure your voices are heard
In a cost-of-living crisis, it’s even more important for UWU members to tell our stories about how a wage increase would improve everyday living. 

We’re all feeling the pinch of wages rising too slowly, but especially those of us on minimum award wages. When UWU members share real-life stories, it helps the FWC understand wages from a worker’s perspective. 



Martin’s story: Martin is a food process worker. He’s paid $24.98 p/hr at level 3 under the Food, Beverage and Tabacco Manufacturing Award 2020.

“The wages barely keep up with the cost of living: living expenses have skyrocketed in recent times, particularly energy bills… We just had to pay over $200 for an energy bill …our wage is just not enough: Minimum award wages are impossible for people trying to keep up with the cost of living.”


How does the Minimum Wage Review work?
The FWC seeks submissions each year from unions, government and industry groups to put their cases forward. Unsurprisingly, employers usually argue against increasing wages. So, for the best chance of a wage increase, we amplify UWU member voices and make sure our submission is strong and convincing. Minimum and award wage increases are important for all workers, because they act as the base line for all other wages.

The FWC announces its decision in June and the increase (if there is one) begins on the 1st July each year. Last year, we won a 3.75 per cent increase, which meant an extra $33 in the pocket of minimum wage earners each week. This year, we’re asking for a 4.5 per cent increase.

What United Workers Union members say
UWU argues each year for an award wage increase to ensure:

that wages keep up with inflation and the cost of living,
that workers’ skills and experience are recognised and rewarded.
Members’ voices are the backbone of our yearly submission to the FWC minimum and award wage review.



Lorraine’s story: Lorraine works part-time for $32.14 per hour under the Aged Care Award 2010.

“It is really difficult to live off this kind of income. I put aside $200 per fortnight just to pay for gas and electricity and even then, I’m still catching up on things so that they’re not overdue. An award increase could potentially cover some of my petrol costs, so I could put more money towards food or other activities.”


Currently, less than 2 per cent of Australians work for minimum award wages, but UWU’s National President Jo Schofield says this number is growing.


“The overall number of workers in the economy who rely on the minimum wage has increased over recent years – meaning more and more workers are working for the bare minimum standard of wages and conditions that are set in an award,” she explains.

If you’re on the bare minimum, we believe is should be at least enough to live on. Australia is a wealthy country and our wages should reflect that. Anybody who works full-time should be able to earn enough to cover rent or mortgage, food and bills – at the very least.

UWU members are sending a strong message to the FWC that wages need to increase.

What employers say
Most employers want to freeze award wages.   

This year, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is warning against an increase of more than 2.5 per cent. They say a higher increase would hurt the jobs market because employers won’t want to spend on hiring more staff. You can read the ACCI’s submission here.

Former Assistant Secretary of the ACTU Tim Lyons, has been through a lot of FWC reviews.

“What it involves is essentially an argument between the trade unions with a few allies – largely from the welfare sector – against everybody else, about whether to increase minimum wage.”

“Employer arguments are normally ‘if the minimum wage increases, there will be a massive increase in unemployment’. It’s never happened.

“They’ve said it would cause ‘cost-push inflation’, when employers pass on the cost of increased wages to consumers. It’s never happened.

We need an increase in the minimum wage.