Unions warn they will ramp up anti-government campaign if public sector job cut plan proceeds
Hundreds of union members have rallied against the Allan government’s plan to gut the public service and have threatened to campaign against Labor MPs at next year’s state election.
Victoria
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Labor MPs have been threatened with a hostile anti-government campaign in the lead up to next year’s state election if plans to cut the public service proceed.
The warning comes as hundreds of union members rallied outside Treasury Place on Monday in protest against the government’s plan to gut the public service and put 3000 jobs on the chopping block.
The job cut plan was unveiled without warning last month in a move that caught unions off guard.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Jaclyn Symes last month announced an independent review into the state’s bloated public service in a move they hoped would produce “several billion dollars of savings” for the government.
Speaking after the rally on Monday, Community and Public Sector Union secretary Karen Batt said instead of cutting jobs, the government should end the use of external consultants, which cost taxpayers more than $325m – or $900,000 each day – during the 2023-24 financial year.
If the job cut plan proceeds, Ms Batt warned that unions would ramp up an anti-government campaign ahead of next year’s November state election.
“It’s only 18 months till the next election. They (politicians) will be up for election. If they are not prepared to take these job cuts off the table then we will target every seat of every MP that votes for them,” she said.
“The disproportionate attack on the public service has been constant, and it’s got to stop. If you want to govern, govern in the interest of all Victorians and that includes the ones who work for you.”
In 2023, the government unveiled plans to axe 5000 workers in the biggest cull of the public service in over a decade.
But latest data shows the number of public sector employees in the state actually grew between July 2023 and June 2024 from 54,760 to 54,839.
On Monday, Ms Allan reiterated the need for a review into the public service.
“We have a laser like focus, as I think Victorians would expect us to have, in terms of how we invest every dollar ... across the Victorian budget, with a focus on the things that matter to Victorian families,” she said.
Former Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary under the Brumby and Baillieu governments, Helen Silver, will lead the review.
A final report will be delivered to the government in June.
Originally published as Unions warn they will ramp up anti-government campaign if public sector job cut plan proceeds
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