‘Doesn’t cut it’: Zoo staff walk off the job to fight for higher wage rise

Zoo staff say a three per cent wage increase “doesn’t cut it” as they prepare to strike, but Daniel Andrews says zoos will stay open these school holidays.

Zoos Victoria staff are set to strike during the school holidays amid a dispute over the Andrews government’s wages deal. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Keeper talks and animal encounters will be banned during the school holidays with zoo staff set to strike over the Andrews government’s new wages deal.

Treasurer Tim Pallas on Tuesday confirmed the state would increase its wages cap from 1.5 per cent a year to 3 per cent.

The move is likely to put even more pressure on the state’s strained budget.

Under Victoria’s wages policy, the government sets a maximum rate that it expects the salaries of police, health workers and others paid by the state to go up each year.

This is then used as it’s bargaining position for pay deals with union and private companies also use this figure as a guideline for their own agreements.

The United Workers Union said members from three zoos – Melbourne, Werribee and Healesville – would take various forms of industrial action from April 7 until April 23.

It will include:

Dumping zoo uniforms and bans on keeper talks, animal ‘encounters’, animal presentations, feeding of animals in display areas, except for safety or animal welfare purposes, and a ban on emptying bins and picking up litter, apart from in the instances of public safety or animal welfare.

The Premier assured families the Zoo’s doors would stay open despite protests. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“Workers at Zoos Victoria say the Government’s revised wages offer of 3 per cent is still a real cut to wages,” UWU executive director Godfrey Moase said.

“While the union welcomes the Government’s move away from the insulting original 1.5 per cent offer, three per cent still doesn’t cut it and it will see wages at the zoo and across the public sector go backwards once again.

“While we understand there isn’t a bottomless money pit for the Government to dip into, it’s really unfair that workers at the zoo and in every workplace in Australia are continuing to bear the brunt of economic decisions made by those who don’t need to worry about their next mortgage repayment or rent increase.

“Union members will start taking industrial action from Good Friday which will now unfortunately lead to a diminished experience for zoo patrons over the school holidays.

“The union also is calling for a return to bargaining with the workers who keep the zoos and the State progressing and would like to see the wages cap removed in the future.”

Daniel Andrews said while he would rather workers express their concerns through a formal process, “provided people act within the industrial relations framework … people are entitled to take action.”

“I’d encourage people to sit down and talk through issues rather than protest … but I’ll always respect people’s right to take action provided it’s lawful,” he said.

He assured families the Zoo’s doors would still be open but that the experience may be impacted.

“My message to parents and families across this weekend and into school holidays is the Zoo will be open. Please don’t be fearful that it won’t be,” he said.

The Premier said his government would be negotiating with workers, signalling the potential for “a sign on bonus or other productivity enhancements”.

“Good faith negotiation is what we’ve always done. And that’s what we always will do,” he said.

Originally published as ‘Doesn’t cut it’: Zoo staff walk off the job to fight for higher wage rise