Unions, united, will take on NSW government over ‘draconian’ 2.5 per cent annual salary cap
UNIONS representing hospital and ambulance staff, prison workers and even firefighters are preparing to follow their rail counterparts and go to war with the NSW government over its 2.5 per cent cap on annual pay rises.
NSW
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UNIONS are preparing to go to war over the NSW government’s “draconian” 2.5 per cent annual salary cap in light of the railway workers’ expected win in their pay increase battle.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal NSW unions — including those representing paramedics, correction workers and hospital staff — are already preparing to push for more than 2.5 per cent in their upcoming negotiations and have said “they will absolutely be asking for the same” if the rail workers receive above that figure in their discussions.
Trains for NSW bosses will this morning meet with rail union leaders to offer them a new salary and conditions package for workers in a last-ditch bid to stop the strike scheduled to bring the city to a halt in just seven days time.
Last night there was speculation the government would come to the table with an offer above 2.5 per cent.
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Despite the union’s demand for a 6 per cent pay rise, a number of sources suggested 3 per cent would be offered in recognition of the increased productivity of railway workers.
Public Service Association’s Stewart Little — whose union represents workers from multiple government agencies including child protection workers, firefighters from NSW National Parks and corrective services workers — said they “would absolutely” ask for the same salary increase as the rail workers if they managed to get above the 2.5 per cent rise.
“There is no question if they give them a pay increase based on productivity (the government) needs to be equitable to all their workers across the board,” he said. “Those people working in fields such as child protection, fighting bushfires and in the state prisons work very, very hard and are just as important.”
When asked if they would consider strikes, he said “they would have to wait and see”.
Health Service Union NSW secretary Gerard Hayes, whose union represents 35,000 members including paramedics, disability support workers, and public hospital workers, said they would also be campaigning against the 2.5 per cent cap in the lead up to the next election.
NSW Unions boss Mark Morey said the time had come for the government to dump the 2.5 per cent wages cap policy introduced in 2011 by Barry O’Farrell’s government. Unions are able to negotiate above it but only if they can prove “demonstrated savings”.
Acting Treasurer Victor Dominello said the wages policy was essential to enabling the government to get the budget back under control.