NSW government ministers called to union headquarters to discuss public sector pay rise

Public sector unions are becoming increasingly frustrated at delays in scrapping the wages cap.

Union leaders will summon senior government ministers to Trades Hall on Tuesday to present the government with a counter offer for a public sector pay rise.

It comes after a meeting on Friday in which Treasurer Daniel Mookhey is understood to have floated a number of options for frontline workers to get a pay boost.

Options presented to union leaders on Friday for discussion included a one-off payment, or a wage of around four per cent, sources said on Monday.

Mr Mookhey and Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis have been called to Trades Hall – Unions NSW headquarters – for Tuesday’s meeting, after hosting union leaders on government turf on Friday.

Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey at his office in Sydney. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The union leaders are expected to present a counter proposal to Mr Mookhey and Ms Cotsis on Tuesday.

Public sector unions met at Trades Hall on Monday afternoon to determine the movement’s next steps in its negotiation with the government.

It comes amid increasing frustrations in the labour movement over how long it is taking the Minns government to scrap the public sector wages cap – a key election commitment.

Health Services Union members last week refused to transport discharged patients from hospital for 24 hours as part of industrial action to argue for a better deal.

“We’re all frustrated that we’re getting paid so low due to the last government, and in a lot of ways there’s a higher expectation on this government to fix that very quickly,” Fire Brigade Employees Union Secretary Leighton Drury, who attended the Monday union meeting, said.

However he said that unionists are happy to be included in negotiations.

“I’m happy we’ve got a government we can talk to,” he said.