Thousands rally across Tasmania for better public service pay rise offer

UPDATED: PUBLIC sector unions have pledged a campaign of escalating industrial action after thousands turned out for rallies around the state in support of wage rises. SEE THE VIDEOS

PUBLIC sector unions have pledged a campaign of escalating industrial action after thousands turned out for rallies around the state in support of wage rises.

About 3000 workers attended a rally on Hobart’s Parliament Lawns on Wednesday, with smaller gatherings in Launceston, St Helens and Burnie.

The ranks of teacher and nurses — who were taking stopwork action — were swollen by large numbers of other public sector workers who took the afternoon off to express anger at the State Government’s 2 per cent pay rise offer.

There were also private sector workers, including construction workers and hospitality staff from Federal Group, who are also in enterprise bargaining negotiations.

They carried banners proclaiming “Tasmanians need a pay rise” and slogans from the ACTU’s “Change the Rules” campaign.

MORE: MASS RALLIES IN PUBLIC SERVICE PAY RISE PUSH

Parliament lawns packed with unionists for Tasmania’s #ChangeTheRules rally #politas pic.twitter.com/kSBPp1R3Jg

— Emily Baker (@emlybkr) October 24, 2018

Australian Education Union state manager Roz Madsen said teachers were determined to pressure the Government for a better deal.

“They want to have their workloads relaxed and they want to scrap the cap,” she said.

“This is not the end of it today. This is an ongoing campaign our members are committed to and we’ll see where that goes over the coming weeks.”

State Labor and Greens MPs attended the rally, including Labor Leader Rebecca White and Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor.

Taroona High School teacher David Genford addressed the rally, saying teachers and principals were working long hours that were often unpaid.

“A 2 per cent wage increase keeps us the lowest paid in the country,” he said.

“For teachers this isn’t just about the 2 per cent, it is about the workload.

“I’m fighting against a government that doesn’t respect the profession I work in.”

Tasmanian unions rally on Parliament Lawns.

Health and Community Services Union state secretary Tim Jacobson said the Government’s adherence to its wages cap meant it was not negotiating in good faith.

“We’ve been frustrated for months now, turning up only to hear the same rhetoric,” he said.

“These things can’t go on. The longer it goes on, the harder it will be for the Government, not us.

“I’ve got a message for the mostly blokes [in parliament]: Shove it. Get stuffed.”

Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch said unions were united in their determination to achieve a better deal.

“Our real hope is that the Government will see sense after today’s rally and come back to the table and negotiate in good faith,” he said.

“If the Government gives us no options, we will have to escalate our actions.”

Mr Lynch urged attendees to send a postcard to Treasurer Peter Gutwein.

“They may have been elected only a few months ago but public sector workers and Tasmanians in general are already fed up with the Government,” he said.

Public sector workers rallying in Hobart for better pay and conditions. Picture: DAVID KILLICK

Royal Hobart Hospital psychiatric nurse Camilla Harvey told the rally that nurses were struggling under increasing workloads.

“When you arrive at work you can feel the tension on the ward,” she said.

“I personally find the constant bed pressures and staff shortages impact the amount of time we can spend with individual patients.”

The rallies follow nationwide protests on Tuesday by an estimated 150,000 workers calling for improved pay.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the Government would be holding its hard line on pay increase.

“An extra 1 per cent increase above the Government’s wages policy, if provided to all public sector workers, would cost Tasmania $285 million including superannuation, over four years — eating into the amount available to hire more teachers, nurses and doctors,” he said.

“It’s completely contradictory for unions and Labor to on one hand be calling for more investment in essential services, and on the other wanting to spend an extra $28 million a year without gaining a single extra nurse, teacher or doctor.”

Public sector workers rally on Parliament Lawns as they push for a bigger pay rise. Picture: EMILY BAKER

Ms White said the pay offer on the table for the state’s 24,000 public servants was unfair.

“Mr Gutwein is not listening to the fact that Tasmanian teachers and nurses are the lowest paid and worst-resourced in the country and he is ignoring the fact that the average Tasmanian worker earns $10,000 each year less than the average Australian worker,” Ms White said.

“Mr Gutwein has claimed the Hodgman Liberal Government is making a fair and reasonable wage offer but the fact is it is not fair.”

Ms O’Connor said the Government had been “disrespecting and bullying public sector workers”.

Union leaders speaking to reporters on Hobart's Parliament Lawns ahead of a rally to push for a larger pay rise for Tasmania's public servants. Picture: DAVID KILLICK