REVEALED: Why one bunch of tradies is set to earn a whopping $156,000 salary – with no extra work
- The Electrical Trades Union wants salary and allowance increases by 2022
- If demands are met, annual base salary of electricians would soar to $156,783
- Opponents say the massive demands are ‘unsustainable and unrealistic’
- ETU said demands aimed to ‘catch up’ with pay in Queensland and Victoria
Electricians in New South Wales are demanding a massive pay rise for no extra work at a time when the rest of the nation is struggling with stagnant wages.
The Electrical Trades Union wants a 14 per cent salary jump and increases in allowances which amount to a 40 per cent total pay rise by 2022.
If the demands are met, the annual base salary of electricians would soar to $156,783, three times Australia’s mean average salary of $52,000.
Electricians in New South Wales are demanding a massive pay rise at a time when the rest of the nation is struggling with stagnant wages
Opponents say the demands are ‘unsustainable and unrealistic’ and will cost the taxpayer because the price of government projects would skyrocket.
The National Electrical and Communications Association has warned that the demands would also lead to job losses.
‘The ETU’s demands in NSW threaten businesses and jobs,’ NECA chief executive Suresh Manickam told The Australian.
‘Ultimately, it is the taxpayers that lose out in these situations, through increased costs to projects, delays to much-needed infrastructure coming online or companies going bust as they are no longer able to compete.’
Mr Manickham said the increase was unfair because electricians are not proposing to do any more work for the extra money and the rest of the country is struggling.
‘The wage rates being sought here are hugely disproportionate to the actual wage increases in the economy,’ he said.
The Electrical Trades Union wants a 14 per cent salary jump and increases in allowances which amount to a 40 per cent total pay rise by 2022
The Electrical Trades Union said the demands aimed to ‘catch up’ with the high pay enjoyed by electricians in Queensland and Victoria.
Electrical contractors Fredon, Heyday and Star have said they support the demands.
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