Unionised women win

Part-time, casual and women workers are benefiting most from union 
membership, earning up to 43 per cent more than their non-union colleagues, 
according to Australian income figures released last week.

The unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows 
that overall, union members on average earn an extra $99 a week, or 15 per 
cent more, than non-union members.

The benefits of union membership are even greater for part-time, casual, 
women and teenage workers. According to the ABS data commissioned by the 
ACTU:

* part-time employees who are union members last year earned on average 
42.9 per cent or $129 per week more than non-union members;

* women union members averaged 24 per cent or $123 per week more than women 
who are not union members;

* casual union members earned 16.2 per cent or $64 per week more than non-
members;

* 15 to 19 year-olds who are union members earned 20.2 per cent, or $40 per 
week, more than non-members.

The results follow ABS figures released last month showing that the number 
of union members in Australia increased for the second consecutive year in 
2001, with the fastest growth among casual employees (up 7.6 per cent) and 
part-time workers (up 6.4 per cent).

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the figures clearly demonstrated the 
increasing relevance of unions to part-time, casual, women and young 
workers.

"The results show that wages for union members are growing faster than for 
non-members in industries including communication services, finance, 
insurance, utilities and mining", Ms Burrow said.

"Union members working in accommodation, cafes, restaurants, transport, 
storage and education are all taking home on average more than 30 per cent 
extra than non-union members in their industries."