History of wages in Australia
1896 The Victorian Wages Board determines minimum rates in the clothing, breadmaking and furniture trades.
1904 Federal Arbitration Court established. Has power over Federal Awards and industrial disputes extending beyond one State.
1907 Justice Higgins hands down judgement in the Harvester Case, enunciating the principle of "a fair and reasonable wage" ie. the minimum wage needed by a worker to support a family in frugal conditions. The notion of the Basic Wage is established and forms the basis for wage fixing for the next 60 years. This decision also established the pay inequity for women.
1920 Arbitration Act amended to allow for variation of awards during their lifetime.
1921 Establishment of quarterly cost of living adjustments to the basic wage.
1930 Metal Trades Award introduced with 154 classifications. Becomes benchmark award.
1950 Basic minimum wage for women fixed at 75% of current male basic wage.
1953 Quarterly cost of living adjustments abandoned.
1967 Commission abolishes Basic Wage and margins from Commonwealth awards and substitutes a single total wage. Unions opposes to the change.
1969 Equal pay for equal work recognised.
1974 National Wage Case grants equal minimum wage to men and women.
1975 Quarterly wage indexation re-introduced.
1981 Indexation abandoned.
1982-83 Wages pause. Real wages fall by over 9%.
1983 Accord Mark I re-establishes centralised wage fixation based on full indexation to CPI.
1984 ACTU "Way Forward Plan", confirms a broader union view, social wage, wider involvement and participation, superannuation, sex discrimination and Medicare.
1985 Accord Mark II focuses on superannuation and WorkSafe.
1987 Accord Mark III. Negotiations include Family Allowance Supplement. Commission creates two tier system: flat rate and second tier only available to those who show restructuring and efficiency outcomes.
1988 Accord Mark IV. National Wage Case adopts Award restructuring principle, wage rises linked to review of awards with view to efficiency and greater job satisfaction.
1989 Accord Mark V. ACTU Blueprint for Restructuring Awards. Main aims to overhaul, simplify and build flexibility into awards and protect weaker groups by raising low rates of pay.
1990 Accord Mark VI. ACTU major drive to reform training and education system.
1991 Enterprise Bargaining now allowed to proceed generally through the Commission at later wage case after being initially rejected by the Commission in April.
1992 Industrial Relations Act amended to allow easier certification of agreements within the Commission.
1993 Accord Mark VII. "Putting Jobs First" stresses employment growth, low inflation, enterprise agreements, award safety net, training and education, equity, family and superannuation.
