NSW Industrial Relations Commission decision on public service wages sparks anger

A controversial decision on wage increase cuts for NSW public servants has led to calls for industrial action.

The controversial decision to cut pay rises for NSW public sector workers could spark industrial action.

The NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on Thursday ruled in favour of the Government, which sought to freeze wage increases for public servants for 12 months. The IRC decided workers would be given a 0.3 per cent increase instead of the 2.5 per cent increase the sector had asked for.

“We’ve been inundated with a lot of angry members, a lot of our members want to take industrial action,” Public Service Association of NSW general secretary Stewart Little said.

Mr Little said any industrial action would have to be co-ordinated between sectors. A Friday morning meeting was a first step towards that end.

Asked for his reaction on the talk of industrial action, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said: “That would be very disappointing.”

Mr Perrottet urged the unions to work with the Government during the current “once-in-a-100 years economic crisis” and said he hopes pay rises for public servants can occur again soon.

“I think the average Australian right now, would believe that a government focused on getting people back to work, is more important than giving people a pay rise.”

The wage freeze push, which Premier Gladys Berejiklian has claimed would save the state about $3 billion, was blocked by the Opposition in parliament in June, forcing the IRC to step in.

The anger over the IRC ruling extended to other unions, including the Australian Workers’ Union, which has firefighters among its members.

“This unfair decision stinks to high heaven. It’s also economic stupidity. Firefighters on modest wages will spend any pay rise they receive. In regional communities this is especially important. It keeps money circulating in the local economy, providing an important lifeline for small business,” AWU NSW secretary Dan Walton said in a statement.