Treasurer Peter Gutwein offers CPSU sweeteners, but 2 per cent pay rise stays

Public servants will be offered a series of sweeteners but a pay rise of no more than 2 per cent a year under a new wages agreement to be put to the state’s public sector union.

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

UPDATE: PUBLIC servants will be offered a series of sweeteners but a pay rise of no more than 2 per cent a year under a new wages agreement to be put to the state’s public sector union.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein’s proposed new agreement to be put to public service workers would offer superannuation to people on unpaid parental leave and workers’ compensation, boost paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 16 weeks, establish flexible employment arrangements for families and create a $1 million a year program aimed at helping school leavers join the public sector.

The agreement would also provide a framework to bring people from fixed term to permanent contracts.

LABOR CALLS FOR END TO PS PAY RISE CAP

Mr Gutwein said: “It is now time for the unions to accept the new offer and cease the escalation of industrial actions that are dangerous and unnecessarily causing disruption to the people of Tasmania.”

The offer was sent to the state’s unions at 4.15pm yesterday.

However, Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch last night said he was unaware there was an offer on the table as he had not received one when he left work at 4pm.

“We welcome getting an offer from the Government, however, they have unfortunately failed to scrap the 2 per cent wage cap which means they’re not bargaining with us in good faith because that was their predetermined position,” Mr Lynch said.

Relations between the CPSU and the Government have worsened over the past week after unionists within Forensic Science Services Tasmania copped the blame for withholding routine reports from testing related to minor crimes. Yesterday they agreed to relax those bans.

Public sector workers join nurses, paramedics, allied health and mental health staff in taking industrial action in response to the government’s 2 per cent wage policy.

Australian Education Union members will strike today and tomorrow over the wage cap.

The teachers’ union’s executive was angered when the government announced an offer of 95 specialist teachers through the Mercury two weeks ago.

EARLIER: PUBLIC servants will be offered a series of sweeteners but a pay rise of no more than 2 per cent a year under a new wages agreement to be put to the state’s public sector union.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein’s proposed agreement to be put to the Community and Public Sector Union would offer superannuation to people on unpaid parental leave and workers’ compensation, boost paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 16 weeks, establish flexible employment arrangements for families and create a $1 million a year program aimed at helping school leavers join the public sector.

The agreement would also provide a framework to bring people from fixed-term to permanent contracts and establish a salary sacrifice program for Metro green cards.

“It is now time for the unions to accept the new offer and cease the escalation of industrial actions that are dangerous and unnecessarily causing disruption to the people of Tasmania,” Mr Gutwein said.

However, Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch last night said he was unaware there was an offer on the table.

“We welcome getting an offer from the Government, however, they have unfortunately failed to scrap the 2 per cent wage cap, which means they’re not bargaining with us in good faith because that was their predetermined position,” Mr Lynch said.

“We would need to discuss any offer with our members before we provide a response to the Government.

“If they really wanted an offer and us to be able to comment on an offer they would have provided it to us instead of sending it to you and saying that we had it … as at 4pm this afternoon I’d seen nothing.”

Relations between the CPSU and the Government have worsened over the past week after unionists within Forensic Science Services Tasmania copped the blame for withholding routine reports from testing related to minor crimes.

MINISTER BLAMES UNION FOR HOLDING UP EVIDENCE

Public sector workers have joined nurses, paramedics, allied health and mental health staff in taking industrial action in response to the Government’s 2 per cent wage policy.

Australian Education Union members will strike today and tomorrow over the wage cap.