Enterprise Agreements, March quarter 2003

By ACIRRT

High wage agreements with moves from an award base to enterprise agreement base were a common outcome.

One agreement saw a 30% increase in the base wage in the agreement over the previous award rate.

In one transport industry the increase in AAWI was 19% with a 38% increase over the base rate in 24 months. Saturday penalty rates were incorporated in the wage rate.

In the community health sector employees gained a 27.9% over 24 months. New classifications were introduced based on skills and hours worked. All employees will still be paid overtime and no absorption of allowances or penalty rates.

In the retail sector an initial increase of 19.8% will be paid on certification with a further 10.65% over 5 instalments over 29 months.

Overall the average annual percentage wage increase for all currently operating agreements as at the end of March 2003 was 3.9%.

ADAM Report. no. 37, June 2003