Public service workers walk off the job for 24 hours, demand bigger pay rise

Dominic Perrottet has been accused of playing “silly games” as tens of thousands of NSW public servants walked off the job.

Tens of thousands of public service workers went on strike for 24 hours on Wednesday after months of pay rise campaigns were met with an unsatisfactory offer.

Protests were held in major towns across NSW after the Public Service Association’s demands of a 5.4 per cent pay rise were not met by the start of the week.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet this week announced an increase of 0.5 per cent to the public service annual pay cap – from 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent this year and a potential 3.5 per cent the following financial year.

Around 30,000 workers, including prison officers, park rangers, school support staff, Service NSW workers and civilian police employees followed through with their promise to strike in light of the state government’s response to persistent campaigning.

Public service sector staff marched from Hyde Park to NSW Parliament House in Sydney to protest a pay rise rate proposed by the Perrottet government. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Around 30,000 workers were involved across the state. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

A rally left Hyde Park in Sydney at 10am and march towards NSW parliament.

Protest demonstrations also took place across the state from Bathurst to Dubbo, Grafton, Newcastle, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.

Union representatives have slammed the public service pay increase, calling it a “pay cut” after factoring in Australia’s inflation rate of 5.1 per cent.

“This offer is pure politics – moving half a per cent and playing silly games with one-off bonuses for certain workers,” PSA general secretary Stewart Little said on Monday.

Signs poked fun at NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard.

“If the Premier is going to insist that workers deserve a pay cut he’s going to meet fierce resistance.”

He also called the announcement of a $3000 payment for frontline health staff a “political” move.

“I think that the Premier’s thought that he’d curry favour with the general population by saying he supports health workers – as does everyone here,” Mr Little said.

“Our members here today … have been ignored in today’s announcement. It’s an absolute insult to them and to so many other frontline workers that did the heavy lifting during the pandemic.”

On Tuesday, health and hospital workers gathered in Sydney to protest the state government’s proposed pay rise.

Originally published as Public service workers walk off the job for 24 hours, demand bigger pay rise