2025 WAIRC 00546
Fire Brigade Employees (Workshops) Award 1983

19. - WAGES

(1) Subject to this clause, an adult employee in the classification specified in the table set out in subclause (2) hereof (other than an apprentice) shall be paid at the respective total wage rate per week assigned to that class of work.

An employee's total rate of pay is inclusive of the award rate, Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment/s and additional payment, where applicable.

The all-purpose rate for this award shall be 1/38th of the total rate prescribed herein plus any allowances specified in this award as being all purpose.

(2) (a)
Classification
Award Rate
Safety Net Adjustments
Additional Payment
Years of Service
Total Wage Per Week

$
$
$
$
$
Engineering Tradesperson -











C8 Level 3
458.89
698.31
118.70
(1-2)
1275.90


706.21
139.30
(3-8)
1304.40


713.71
166.80
(over 8)
1339.40






Engineering Tradesperson -











C9 Level 2
437.98
675.02
77.30
(1)
1190.30






C10 Level 3
407.00
661.90
81.10
(1)
1150.00







Engineering Employee -











C11 Level 4
385.40
645.00
57.70
(1)
1088.10






C12 Level 3
364.59
623.51
21.50
(1)
1009.60

(b) (i) The rates of pay in this award include arbitrated safety net adjustments available since December 1993, under the Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment Principle.

These arbitrated safety net adjustments may be offset against any equivalent amount in the rate of pay received by employees since 1 November 1991 above the rate prescribed in the Award, except where such absorption is contrary to the terms of an industrial agreement.

Increases in rates of pay otherwise made under the State Wage Case Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset arbitrated safety net adjustments.

(3) Levels Classifications - For the purposes of this clause, existing classifications translate to the new classification structure in subclause (2) of this clause as follows:

Engineering Tradespersons -



C8 Level 3
Senior Technician
Brigade Electrician


C9 Level 2
Technician Grade I and II


C10 Level 1
Technician Grade III


Engineering Employee -



C11 Level 4
Technician's Assistant Grade I


C12 Level 3
Technician's Assistant Grade II

(4) A tradesperson placed in charge of three or more other employees, in addition to the ordinary rate, shall be paid per week -

(a)
If placed in charge of not less than three and
not more than 10 other employees
$26.00



(b)
If placed in charge of more than 10 and not
more than 19 other employees
$40.00



(c)
If placed in charge of more than 20 other
employees
$51.30

(5) (a) The employer shall pay employees an allowance for service of:

$8.00 in the second year of service.

$16.00 in the third and subsequent years of service.

(b) This allowance shall be paid as “all purpose”.

(6) (a) Where the employer does not provide a tradesperson or an apprentice with the tools ordinarily required by that tradesperson or apprentice in the performance of work as a tradesperson or as an apprentice, the employer shall pay a tool allowance of:

(i) $14.40 per week to such tradesperson; or

(ii) in the case of an apprentice a percentage of $14.40, being the percentage which appears against the relevant year of apprenticeship.

For the purpose of such tradesperson or apprentice supplying and maintaining tools ordinarily required in the performance of work as a tradesperson or as an apprentice.

(b) Any tool allowance paid pursuant to paragraph (a) hereof will be included in, and form part of, the all purpose ordinary weekly wage prescribed in this clause.

(c) An employer shall provide, for the use of tradespersons or apprentices, all necessary power tools, special purpose tools and precision measuring instruments.

(d) A tradesperson or an apprentice shall replace or pay for any tools supplied by the employer, if lost through the negligence of such employee.

(7) Liberty to Apply

Leave is reserved to Respondents to the award to apply to vary this clause consequent upon the outcome of the 1989/90 paid rates review conducted by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

(8)

(a) No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.

(b) The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $953.00 per week.

The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under awards that provide for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $953.00 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time employee under the award.

The minimum adult award wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(c) The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.

(d) Unless otherwise provided in this clause adults aged 21 or more employed as casuals, part-time employees or piece workers or employees who are remunerated wholly on the basis of payment by results, shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult award wage according to the hours worked.

(e) Employees under the age of 21 shall be paid no less than the wage determined by applying the percentage prescribed in the junior rates provision in this award (if applicable) to the minimum adult award wage, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(f) The minimum adult award wage shall not apply to apprentices, employees engaged on traineeships or government approved work placement programs or employed under the Commonwealth Government Supported Wage System or to other categories of employees who by prescription are paid less than the minimum award rate, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(g) Liberty to apply is reserved in relation to any special category of employees not included here or otherwise in relation to the application of the minimum adult award wage.

(h) Subject to this clause the minimum adult award wage shall –

(i) Apply to all work in ordinary hours.

(ii) Apply to the calculation of overtime and all other penalty rates, superannuation, payments during any period of paid leave and for all purposes of this award.

(i) Minimum Adult Award Wage

The rates of pay in this award include the minimum weekly wage for employees aged 21 or more payable under the 2025 State Wage order. Any increase arising from the insertion of the minimum wage will be offset against any equivalent amount in rates of pay received by employees whose wages and conditions of employment are regulated by this award which are above the wage rates prescribed in the award. Such above award payments include wages payable pursuant to enterprise agreements, consent awards or award variations to give effect to enterprise agreements and over award arrangements. Absorption which is contrary to the terms of an agreement is not required.

Increases under previous State Wage Case Principles or under the current Statement of Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset the minimum wage.

(j) Adult Apprentices

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $791.30 per week.

(ii) The minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $791.30 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time apprentice under the award.

(iii) The minimum adult apprentice wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(iv) Adult apprentices aged 21 years or more employed on a part-time basis shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult apprentice wage according to the hours worked.

(v) The rates paid in the paragraphs above to an apprentice 21 years of age or more are payable on superannuation and during any period of paid leave prescribed by this award.

(vi) Where in this award an additional rate is expressed as a percentage, fraction or multiple of the ordinary rate of pay, it shall be calculated upon the rate prescribed in this award for the actual year of apprenticeship.