Government offers 2 per cent pay rise for state’s public service workers

THE state’s public sector workers will be angered by the government’s pay offer and could launch industrial action in support of a better rise, the community sector union says.

Community and Public Sector Union general secretary Tom Lynch. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE state’s 29,000 public sector workers will be angered by the government’s offer of a 2 per cent annual pay rise and could launch industrial action in support of a better rise, the community sector union says.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein announced on Thursday that the Government had delivered an offer to unions for an agreement covering all public servants — except police — for the next three years.

Mr Gutwein said the offer was fair and affordable and reflected the Government’s longstanding policy and was its final position.

“If the wages cap increases by just 1 per cent to a 3 per cent pay rise, it would cost an additional $28 million, including superannuation, each and every year,” he said.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein.

“That’s money that would reduce the investment in health, education and other frontline services for Tasmanians.

“The Liberal Government’s priority in negotiating industrial agreements is to ensure better services and value to the community, which is affordable and part of the Government’s commitment to strong financial management.

Community and Public Sector Union general secretary Tom Lynch said the offer was less than the cost of inflation.

“Our members will be angry,’’ he said.

“We’ve already been out and spoken to them. they made a very reasonable wage claim for an annual increase of 3 per cent and that’s just been rejected out of hand by a government that is arrogant and out of touch.

“People’s real wages are going backwards. We have said and we maintain the position that if you want to improve Tasmanian workers’ position, you need to improve on the wage cap.

“We’re talking about a government that has handed down a budget that forecasts surpluses of $620 million over the next four years but they’re saying they can’t afford to pay increases that even keep up with the CPI.

“Why do we want to have a massively booming economy if it doesn’t deliver decent wages to people so they can look after their family, doesn’t deliver a decent health system, a decent education system?”

He said if the Government’s offer was not improved it was likely to face a campaign of targeted industrial action.