WAGES for Australian shearers and shed hands are set to rise by as much as seven per cent as of July 1, 2010 in a historic new workplace law deal between the National Farmers Federation (NFF) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU).
In a bid to compensate for the Federal Government’s decision to reduce hours from 40 to 38 a week, the new Pastoral Award will increase pay rates for shearers from $235.89 to $242.11 per hundred sheep shorn as of July 1, 2010 as part of a new federal award system that rolls in the Station Hands Award, Shearing Industry Award and broadacre agriculture, which are currently an equivalent state award.
The new award also reduces the basic shearing working week from 40 hours to 38 hours effective January 1, 2010, making it the last sector to move to the reduced hour week first introduced 25 years ago.
While the Shearers Contractors Association Australia (SCAA) are in favour of introducing the wage hike in one hit rather than a proposed plan to ease it in at 20 per cent intervals over five years, they argue that its merely "compensation for loss of earning potential".
“There has not been an increase in shearing salaries for 20 months,” SCAA secretary Jason Letchford told Rural Press.
“People must be mindful that this is not an actual increase in pay. Someone earning $100 a day is still going to be earning $100 a day.”
Under the new 38 hour basic working week employees and employers can agree to work for 40 hours; however, over-time will need to be paid for shed hands.
NFF workplace relations general manager Denita Wawn said the wage increase of 5.4pc to 7pc – which depended on current state awards – was a lift that was “well overdue".
“We acknowledge that these increases will be cost borne to producers however it is something that they have been entitled to for a number of years,” she said.
The sign off of the new Pastoral Award ends months of disputes between NFF and the AWU, which reached a climax in April this year when the peak farm body won a historic deal to retain a flexible working week.
“We have managed to maintain the most flexible hours in all Australian industries which is critical for long term success of the industry,” Ms Wawn said.
“This flexibility recognises the seasonal vagaries of agriculture and the high/low peak nature of farming,” said Queensland's Agforce president Charles Burke.
The move to a federal industrial relations arrangement for agriculture brings NSW, QLD and the Northern Territory in line with the federal award.
It includes the appointment of a Farm Work Ombudsman, who will make determinations on disputes.
Under the new shearing and contracting staff wage changes, crutching will increase to $70.21 (per 100), shed hand to $45.23 per run, wool presser to $46.03 per run, cooks to $194.52 per day, and wool classers to level two $216.09 per day.
Email a friend