Inside the eye-watering pay of Aussie lollipop workers: Union rates, long hours, and divided opinions
There are more than 16,000 lollipop workers employed across the country, and some workers have reported annual pay of up to $200,000 a year — nearly double the average annual salary for full-time workers.
The role involves the direction of road and pedestrian traffic to ensure the safety of emergency response teams, construction workers and the general public.
Sky News reported that the high wages are being earned by trade union workers part of Victoria's Big Build project, who pull in about $206,000.
But the job is far from standard, with employees working 56 hours over a six-day week.
Private company salaries appear to be much lower, starting at $55,000, with an hourly rate of about $30.
The union rate is $49 per hour, and doubles to $98 per hour for 16 hours of double time.
A Facebook group called Traffic Controller Australia sees many workers call out the high pay perception as far from the truth for non-union workers.
One user said, 'I don't even make half of that, and that's with working away a lot'.
Others have said they are treated badly by the public.
One Facebook user wrote, 'there is no power being a traffic controller' and that 'most of the population think we are pests and do nothing'.
In a TikTok interview, one worker said they are 'not allowed to sit down' and that workers have to learn to occupy themselves.
Workers seem to disagree on how difficult the job really is.
Some lollipop workers have come forward, saying the work is easy and they get paid to just stand there.
Ruth Birch, a TikTok user, told her followers she would 'rather be paid to be bored than to be stressed'.
She encouraged other women to get their traffic control ticket so they could do the same work.
But others highlighted the danger of the work, even saying they have risked their lives while on the job.
Many say they experience an increased risk of physical harm, especially when called to crash sites.
One Reddit user said the work is 'definitely not hard' but is 'very dangerous'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
5 hours ago
- The Age
Majority suffer due to idiocy of the few
Legal instruments In ' Watchdog pleaded for help to curb abuse risks ' (23/7), Noel Towell reports that oversight authorities are so understaffed and underfunded that they could only fully investigate a few of last year's 1500 reports of abuse in childcare centres. But all Australian jurisdictions have a reasonably staffed and funded workplace law enforcement body whose investigators must 'monitor and enforce compliance with″, for example, the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) or Victoria's OHS Act. All such Acts impose a duty on workplace operators to first, identify all risks to the health (including psychological health) and safety of both 'workers' and 'other persons' (including children) at their workplace, then eliminate – or at least minimise and control – those risks. It's a preventive duty. If WHS/OHS inspectors find a serious unaddressed workplace risk, they can issue, on the spot, a compliance-compelling 'improvement notice″. Although duty or notice non-compliance is a heavily penalised criminal offence, the crucial child safety point is that such notices can quickly prevent harm, or further harm, before it happens or continues. Max Costello, North Melbourne Turning the tide Re ' Council's final warning for Frankston mansion owner's sea wall ', 22/7. It was King Canute who was possibly the first significant leader who made a point of reminding his courtiers that no mere mortal has the power to hold back the tide. In more recent times, there's been plenty of coastal hydraulics experts who've explained the dangers and folly of building a hard wall to contain and tame the waves. Other marine engineers have counselled the importance of leaving the primary and secondary dune systems to nature, to accommodate the seasonal fluctuations in tidal and wind dynamics, as well as the dangers of building in sand, including sandstone, well known around the Australian coastline for its vulnerability to erosion Then there's the numerous consistent, combined research findings from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and more localised data analysis that confirms not only that the high tide is rising due to the cumulative consequences of climate change but, in many regions the tide is rising faster than the worst case scenario envisaged by the IPCC. And yet, one man in his mansion in Frankston, thinks he can hold back the tide? Tell him he's dreaming. Bernadette George, Mildura How to quit Fiona Patten's article was concise, well-written (″ Australia has become the global village idiot on quitting smoking ″, 24/7). I agree with all her points. As a former smoker, I changed to vaping 13 years ago and four years ago decided to stop that also. Vaping, in my opinion, is the only way to get off cigarettes completely and should be easily available. Ingrid Pezzoni, Toorak Learn to like politics Even as a schoolgirl, I was keenly interested in politics and could not understand why most of my fellow students didn't care at all. As an adult, I find nothing has changed. Most people I know vote because they have to, some even barely know who the current political chiefs are. Age has nothing to do with political responsibility, but maybe more effort could be made within the school curriculum to encourage political awareness and the importance of participation in political debate. Hopefully, that would also result in better candidates. Valerie Johnson, Eaglemont One vote each What a great idea. Give extra votes to those who ″contribute more to the successful running of our society″ (Letters, 24/7). Success, by implication, is the gaining of wealth. The wealthy already have superannuation tax concessions, family trust tax concessions, capital gains tax concessions, negative gearing and expensive tax minimisation accountants. Let's give them more votes so they can vote themselves even more tax avoidance schemes. Those who cannot afford tertiary education or a house, or who cannot hold a full-time job because they have disabilities or are single parents, would only have one vote, at least until the multiple-voting rich removed that privilege. Australia is supposed to be a democracy, not a plutocracy. That is why we have ″one vote one person″. Helen Moss, Croydon Push for ceasefire For the past 60 years or so, there has been little anti-Jewish activity in Australia but it has increased significantly lately. I have been surprised by some people asking why this sudden increase has occurred. There is much violence in the Middle East but the main thing that has changed is the starvation and killing of defenceless people in Gaza day after day. This is a very disheartening, distressing saga. Some Australian residents will protest peacefully, others may act violently towards entities associated with Israel. Some people think the best way to stop attacks is to censor Australians but this is not resolving the root cause. Further, citizens should not be prohibited from rational discussions on national and international issues. Our current laws can handle racial hate speech and violence. Meanwhile, the Australian government should apply pressure on Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire. Graham Kelley, Mount Waverley Words not enough The government is being disingenuous in saying that all our exports to Israel are non-lethal. We supply parts that are vital to the IDF's military strikes. Even worse, last year the Israeli weapons and surveillance company, Elbit systems, was awarded a $917 million contract with Australia. Seventy-eight Labor branches are now calling for the government to impose sanctions on Israel, yet nothing happens (″ Immense frustration': Labor base demands sanctions against Israel ″, 24/7). Words are not enough, the Labor Party needs to hear the calls of its members and of Australians and impose sanctions on Israel without further delay. The cruelty being perpetrated in Gaza must end. Lorel Thomas, Blackburn South A tasty read While agreeing with your correspondent about the sad decline in readership among men (″ Young men have stopped reading books – and these are the reasons ″, 22/7), I flinched wearily at yet another drive by slap at fantasy and other genre fiction. An equally jaundiced reader of fantasy could view the genre of literary fiction as pretentious navel gazing. And as for the claim that a scarcity of literary fiction ″diminishes our ability to understand each other and address issues at the core of our society″, it neglects the possibility that the best of fantasy and genre fiction does it in a profound and sublime way that literary fiction simply cannot. Fantasy and other genres can take us out of the mundanity of the here and now into wider, more expansive considerations of the human condition. Such works as Piranesi' by Susanna Clarke or Kazuo Ishiguro's writing certainly help develop empathy and a desire to make sense of the world in a movingly insightful way, and are tasty as well as being full of nourishment. Michael Pryor, Alphington AND ANOTHER THING Scott Morrison Who asked Scott Morrison to speak to US Congress? He was an abject failure as a politician, displaying appalling judgment. Haven't they got that message? Or has he been asked because he'll say what they want to hear? David Ashton, Katoomba, NSW Now we know why the Trump regime seems so out of touch with public opinion in Australia. To get a view on what we think, they consulted Morrison, who has been in the wilderness for a full term of parliament. Tony Haydon, Springvale When is Morrison going realise that he is irrelevant? Corrado Tavella, Rosslyn Park, SA Trump world Another $800 million to the US for AUKUS? Talk about money for jam. Donald Trump must be laughing all the way to the bank. Jane Ross, San Remo I hope imported US beef is well labelled as such so I can tell if it's from you Donald! Steve Melzer, Hughesdale
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Stirling launches state's first regular Auslan Storytime
In a WA-first, the City of Stirling has launched an Auslan Storytime program to bring early literacy to deaf and hard-of-hearing families regularly. Run in partnership with Deaf Connect, the free storytime sessions involve book reading led by a deaf storyteller in Auslan, supported by an interpreter. Designed for children up to five, the sessions blend signing, reading, singing, talking and play to support early language development in an inclusive setting. Auslan Storytime has gained popularity in the eastern states, but the City of Stirling said this is the first time it's been offered regularly in the state. The program began fortnightly sessions starting at 10:30 am on Thursday, July 24, at Stirling Libraries – Osborne, and will continue throughout the 2025 school year. This comes after an official launch was held on Saturday, June 28, attracting a strong turnout of 37 families. Stirling Deputy Mayor Suzanne Migdale said the launch's success showed strong demand for inclusive and accessible activities. Credit: City of Stirling Stirling Deputy Mayor Suzanne Migdale said the success of the June launch demonstrated strong community demand for more inclusive and accessible activities across the City. 'The energy and enthusiasm for Auslan Storytime at the launch event demonstrates the need for programs supporting early literacy for deaf and hard-of-hearing families,' Deputy Mayor Migdale said. 'The City of Stirling is proud to support Deaf Connect in the delivery of this program to make our libraries a more inclusive place for all families.' Currently, around 3.6 million Australians experience some degree of hearing loss. With an aging population, this figure is projected to more than double to about 7.8 million by 2060, according to the Department of Health. At birth, roughly one in every 1,000 Australian babies is diagnosed with hearing loss, a number that rises to two in every 1,000 by the time children enter school. Auslan, short for Australian Sign Language, is the primary language used by deaf and hard-of-hearing Australians, helping to break down communication barriers. Roughly one in every 1,000 Australian babies is diagnosed with hearing loss at birth. Credit: BRIAN MITCHELL / Getty Images Although focused on improving early literacy and library engagement for deaf and hard-of-hearing families, the City believes the storytime program benefits the wider community by promoting greater inclusion and deaf culture awareness. It is also said to benefit hearing families by teaching basic Auslan signs that can aid pre-verbal communication and strengthen parent-child bonding. The City's Auslan Storytime program is supported by funding from the State Government through the State Library of WA's Better Beginnings program. The free sessions can be booked online at
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Pay me back': Internet divided over common coffee act
Few rituals are as sacred to Aussies as the coffee run. Whether you're ducking into your work's cafe before tackling the 9-5 grind or taking a quick break with colleagues for a 3pm pick-me-up. Yet, why, for something so central to our daily lives, do we never quite know how to handle that awkward little negotiation with friends about who pays? In an era where every dollar counts, how should we deal with the humble coffee shout? There are three main approaches: 1. Shout your mate and expect nothing in return. This is the classic act of generosity, and considering coffees are around $5-$6, many believe it's a small price to pay to avoid having to talk about it. 2. Take turns shouting. This method depends a lot on trust and works best when you catch up regularly and know it'll balance out over time 3. Just pay for your own coffee. No fuss, no tracking, no IOUs – just pay for your own and move on. A recent TikTok has blown this debate wide open. The short clip, which has over 8.8 million views, shows a woman in her 20s sitting in a cafe sipping an iced latte: 'I don't know what friend gave you PTSD but you do not have to pay me back for a coffee'. Clearly striking a chord, thousands of cafe-goers commented to share their thoughts. Some believed keeping tabs was essential. 'You ALWAYS have to pay back,' insisted one. 'It's not even about friends giving you PTSD. It's financial PTSD from parents,' added another, touching on the fact that money anxiety can stem from a person's upbringing. Others agreed with the poster, but with some exceptions. 'Yes, until they start to take advantage,' said one. 'It's all fun and games until every time you go out, you're the one paying,' another commented. Many, however, echoed her selfless approach. 'The whole point is DO NOT give with the expectation of reciprocity,' said one. 'If someone owes me under $10, I wouldn't ask for it,' said another. 'It doesn't even count'. The video was shared by a content creator in London, making me wonder what people think about this issue in Australia, where coffee prices have risen 37 per cent from pre-pandemic levels and now average $5.50. So, I conducted some very serious, peer-reviewed research by polling my Instagram followers. Out of 80 responses, 23 per cent said 'I shout, no need to pay back,' 61 per cent said 'We take turns,' and 15 per cent said 'We pay for our own'. Less than one per cent responded 'Other,' and that person explained their simple rule: 'Whoever is closest to the register pays'. To add a touch more credibility, I consulted an etiquette expert – the only one in the world with a Master's thesis on modern manners – no less. Jo Hayes, founder of told that for a simple coffee, it's actually best to shout. 'As a general rule, if it's just a coffee, no extras like brunch or snacks, one of the duo should shout the other,' she said. 'This small gesture of kindness doesn't break the bank but fosters friendship, kindness, and goodwill.' She also mentioned that if you're both ordering at the same counter, most reasonable folk agree it's 'a bit tight' for both to pay for a coffee separately. The key to pulling off this move in a classy way, as many commenters suggested, is expecting nothing in return. 'This is what gifting is,' she added. A simple, discreet 'I've got it,' with a friendly smile, is the best way to handle it. 'Don't make a big deal of it, and quickly switch the topic,' she advised. 'One doesn't want to dwell on money talk longer than necessary.' She also noted that with regular coffee catchups, you should take turns paying. 'Most of us remember who paid last time and, wanting to show mutual generosity, step up to offer the shout,' she explained. If you notice you're always covering your friend's coffee and they never reciprocate, Hayes warns this is a serious breach of etiquette. 'I would reconsider that friendship,' she said. 'Such stinginess raises questions about their character and shows a lack of social courtesy'. If that feels too harsh, try subtle cues next time, like hanging back when it's time to pay or letting them order first. She reminds us that a golden rule applies here, and in all areas of life: 'We reap what we sow'. If we're generous, we'll see generosity return, if we're stingy, that's what we'll get back.
