Hearing expected within weeks on public sector pay dispute

Unions are hoping to limit the scope of arbitration in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission to bring about a speedy resolution to the long-running pay dispute.

Public servants rallying outside Parliament House in Hobart. Picture: JACK PAYNTER

THE state’s long-running public sector wages dispute is likely to be before the state’s Industrial Commission within weeks.

Union are on Wednesday expected to respond to the Government’s request for terms of reference for the Commission to settle the dispute.

Community and Public Sector Union state general secretary Tom Lynch said he hoped both sides could agree to limit the scope of arbitration to speed up an outcome.

“I think both parties would want a speedy referral so we go on an efficient process here, one that has a clear timeline, one that can easily be implemented and we also need to be clear as a commission about what it is that we’re asking them to do because that really hasn’t occurred at this stage,” he said.

Providing the Government and unions were able to agree to terms by the end of next weeks, the Commission could conduct hearings soon after.

Members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation have accepted a one-year 2.1 per cent pay increase from the Government in lieu of a three-year deal.

But public sector workers from the CPSU, the Health and Community Services Union, United Voice, the United Firefighters Union and the Australian Education Union remain without a deal.