‘Shortsighted and arrogant’: CPSU slams NT government’s zero per cent wage offer
The Territory’s largest employer, the NT government, has been blasted by the public sector union after the latest wage offer made in negotiations. SEE HOW MUCH WAS OFFERED.
Northern Territory
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THE union representing public sector workers has slammed the NT government’s “shortsighted and arrogant” offer of a wage freeze for its employees.
The Community and Public Sector Union blasted the zero per cent wage increase offer for the next four years, claiming it will drive families to search for work interstate and add to the Territory’s economic woes.
But Chief Minister Michael Gunner has defended the move, saying “times are tough” and promising he still intends to give every public servant an additional $1000 each year.
Mr Gunner said a wage freeze would save jobs and claimed the union’s demands of 10 per cent more pay over four years would “kill our comeback”.
The decision affects the roughly 22,000 workers at the Territory’s largest employer, NT government.
It comes ahead of Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s 2021-22 Budget next week.
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The CPSU claimed this would leave the average public sector worker $16,238 worse off between 2021-22 and 24-25.
The government however claimed it would only leave workers $8196 worse off.
The union’s Northern Territory regional secretary Kay Densley said in a statement the decision let down workers of the Territory.
“It beggars belief that Chief Minister Gunner says he wants the economy to bounce back but he hampers that recovery by keeping wage growth down,” Ms Densley said.
“There are families around the Territory right now who are struggling with an ever-increasing cost of living, and wages are just not keeping up,” she said.
“If we don’t want families to leave the Territory, we need to make sure they can pay their bills and pay freezes won’t do that.”
Ms Densley claimed every dollar spent on public sector wages generated $1.50 across the wider economy.
“The Territory economy and local business will lose millions of dollars with employees having to rein in their spending as housing, power and food costs continue to soar,” she said.
A release from the CPSU also slammed the decision as “shortsighted and arrogant”.
The decision to effectively freeze wages is a significant downgrade on the previous 2.5 per cent increases.
“The Gunner Government are not living its values and are leaving Territory families behind,” Ms Densley said.
“The only winner in this decision is Michael Gunner’s ego, not workers, not families and most definitely not our economy,” she said.
“Its time for the government to put our community first and come back to the table with a reasonable offer.”
Mr Gunner however defended the decision, saying the CPSU’s demands “would put people out of work and kill our comeback”.
“Times are tough and the pandemic has hurt our bottom line,” he said.
“Our wages policy is to give every public servant $1000 per year on top of their wage.”
Mr Gunner said public servants were “amazing” and the government was committed to saving their jobs.
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