SEMMA to probe wage-drop claims

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE SOUTH EAST’S peak manufacturing body is investigating claims made in a metropolitan newspaper that manufacturing wages have dropped over the last five years.
A surprised South East Melbourne Manufacturers’ Alliance (SEMMA) will conduct an intensive survey with its members to determine whether claims that manufacturing wages have dropped by more than 20 per cent since 2001 are correct.
A report earlier this week in a metropolitan newspaper showed that manufacturing workers’ gross weekly earnings had dropped from $764 in 2001 to $580 in 2005.
SEMMA executive officer Paul Dowling said he was shocked to hear the statistics, and didn’t believe it was necessarily a reflection on Melbourne’s south east.
“We are surprised at the statistics and are now investigating the actual situation in south east Melbourne,” Mr Dowling said.