Every day unions are out negotiating for better pay and conditions in the workplaces and the industries they cover. That’s the reason union members earn on average $251 more every week than non members. But did you know that unions also come together to fight for a pay rise for all workers?

That’s because working people do better when we stick together. When any of us are getting low pay, that disadvantages all of us.

Why do we get a pay rise?

Each year company bosses and their lawyers lobby the Fair Work Commission to keep minimum wages low. They spend a lot of time and money trying to prove that a pay rise for workers would be a disaster for the economy.

And if the Fair Work Commission only heard from the bosses, we could expect them to deny workers a pay rise.

Luckily for all of us, on the other side workers in union make an argument to increase minimum wages. You may have heard of the ACTU – that’s sort of the union of unions. Workers from every industry union contribute to our collective body. With the support of millions of workers across Australia, unions run a sophisticated case for higher minimum wages. This year the Fair Work Commission agreed to a 6% bump to the national minimum wage, and 4.75% increases to awards (industry minimum rates).

What else is happening?

The 1st of July is a good day for workers. In 2026, we can look forward to: 

• Fair Work’s Annual Wage Review decision means more money in the pockets of millions of workers.  
• Pay Day Super will also start from July, which means your super must be paid as part of your pay cycle, so it’s easier to keep track of. 
• The government has introduced tax breaks for workers in the federal budget that will start in the 2026/27 financial year.  

ICYMI, the Fair Work Commission awarded a 4.75% increase to modern award minimum wages, a 6% increase to the National Minimum Wage, and additional structural increases for some of the lowest-paid classifications in the award system.  

The new rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.