Unions push for wage increases as workers safety amid Omicron remains in focus

Australia could be hit with strikes in key industries this year after union bosses vowed to aggressively seek ‘overdue’ pay rises.

Australian unions will ruthlessly seek pay rises this year, with key figures saying workers are fed up of being underpaid and are “itching” to strike in support.

Three union leaders have told The Australian workers were overdue for a wage correction, after years of stagnation made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some unions are seeking an annual pay rise of at least three per cent to bring workers more in line with rising inflation.

Peak body the ACTU also wants the government to protect workers amid an Omicron surge across the country that has savaged critical industries.

Workers have threatened to strike unless bosses agree to pay them more. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The United Workers Union – which represents 45 industries including health and aged care, supermarket supply chain, early childhood and education assistants, hospitality, and factory and manufacturing – has flagged “significant bargaining” this year across both public and private sector.

National secretary Tim Kennedy said workers would be expecting wage outcomes beyond three per cent per annum in most sectors.

Electrical Trades Union national secretary Allen Hicks said workers’ cost of living was surging with petrol, grocery and rent prices going up.

“Whether it’s early termination of enterprise agreements, state wage caps or casualisation, we have seen a decade of wage suppression,” Mr Hicks told The Australian.

“That means there is pent-up demand for higher wages, both to keep pace with the cost of living and to make up for lost time.

“All of this is translating into a more aggressive attitude to industrial action at workplaces across the country.

“The business community’s answer to every problem is always wage suppression and workers have simply had enough. They’re more than fed up, they’re itching to take action.”

The Australian Workers’ Union is calling for new policy settings to encourage wage rises.

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus wants to ensure workers are protected amid the Omicron surge. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

The push for a wage increase comes as unions fight for workers’ safety amid the Omicron outbreak.

National cabinet will meet on Thursday after discussions between the Prime Minister and critical industries to determine which workers can be exempt from quarantine rules.

Supermarket supply chain workers, including truck drivers and shelf stackers who are deemed close contacts will be allowed to return to work provided they have no symptoms, to keep stock on shelves.

Other key industries including childcare, hospitality, energy and waste workers could be added to that group.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said earlier this week the changes to close contact rules were “crazy” and “dangerous”.

“In 2020 we were constantly meeting with the government to ensure that decision making included a consideration of issues affecting workers,” Ms McManus said.

“This needs to be reinstated to ensure that decisions made that affect working people are made after consulting working people.”

In a letter to the government, the ACTU has also made a list of demands for the government, including free rapid antigen tests and updating the mask mandate to N95 or P2 masks.

“The accelerating Omicron outbreak is a national crisis. It calls for national leadership,” the letter said.

“We need the support of our government to be able to keep the country going and at the same time to keep workers and the community safe.”

Originally published as Unions push for wage increases as workers safety amid Omicron remains in focus