Sydney lollipop lady earns a shocking $130,000 a year

A Sydney traffic controller is earning a whopping $130,000 for a job that requires just two day’s training.

‘Lollipop lady’ Amy Dowsett is raking in the handsome salary, roughly double that of a nurse’s annual income, thanks to the construction boom and the industry’s union. 

‘When I tell other people how much I earn, they say: ”Where do I sign up”?’ the 30-year-old told The Daily Telegraph.

‘Lollipop lady’ Amy Dowsett is earning a whopping $130,000 for a job that requires just two day’s training.

Amy Dowsett (not pictured) is raking in the handsome salary, roughly double that of a nurse's annual income, thanks to the construction boom and the industry's union (stock) 

Amy Dowsett (not pictured) is raking in the handsome salary, roughly double that of a nurse’s annual income, thanks to the construction boom and the industry’s union (stock) 

‘I’ve got friends who are now in and loving it. You don’t get bored because there is always something going on.’ 

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union member earns over $40 an hour and also receives a $45 per day travel allowance and a $22 meal allowance.

Depending on the size of the project, she is also paid a site allowance of between $2.10 and $3.95 per hour.

And if she works more than 10 hours at her Penrith building site, she receives double time.

Employees on non-CFMEU contracts earn significantly less, around half of Ms Dowsett’s salary.

‘It’s standover tactics. What the CFMEU makes employers pay is a farce,’ one company owner, who didn’t want to be named, told the paper.

A traffic controller is pictured working at a building site in central Sydney in December last year

A traffic controller is pictured working at a building site in central Sydney in December last year

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union member earns over $40 per hour and also receives a $45 per day travel allowance and a $22 meal allowance (stock image)

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union member earns over $40 per hour and also receives a $45 per day travel allowance and a $22 meal allowance (stock image)

Brian Parker, the union’s NSW state secretary, said the salary is justified, adding that some traffic controllers are earning up to $180,000 per year. 

‘They stand outside all day in all sorts of weather and they cop abuse from the public,’ he said.

Mr Parker said under a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement many workers like Ms Dowsett will receive a 3.5 per cent pay rise in a few month’s time. 



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