Tasmania public sector pay dispute: More leave, $1k bonus in new offer

Public servants have been offered extra paid leave and bonuses by the state government in a bid to break deadlocked pay talks. SEE THE FULL OFFER

Tasmanian public sector unions march and rally at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

PUBLIC servants have been offered an extra three days of paid leave and a $1000 retention bonus by the state government in a bid to break deadlocked pay talks.

As enterprise bargaining agreements with the bulk of the state sector workforce expire, there is no increase of the government’s “final” offer of 3.5 per cent in the first year of any new agreements, followed by three per cent in each of the following years.

But the new deal includes a one-off cost of living payment and retention of $1000 for every worker, and retains bonuses of $1000 in year one, $500 in year two and $500 in year three for the lowest-paid workers.

The government says its revised deal amounts to pay increases of between around four and nine per cent in the first year and 10 to 17 per cent over the life of the agreement.

Other improvements to the offer include access to permanent roles for fixed term and fixed term casual staff.

Thousands of public sector workers walked off the job last month during a day of industrial action which demanded Premier Jeremy Rockliff involve himself in the protracted negotiations for a new deal.

Minister for State Development Construction and Housing Guy Barnett (right).

Further industrial action was promised if the government didn’t improve its offer to unions.

Minister for State Development Construction and Housing Guy Barnett said on Thursday the government was hopeful the deal would be acceptable to union.

“The objective behind the latest offer is to provide further support for Tasmanians to address cost of living,” he said.

“It’s affordable and responsible and fair and we hope that it will be accepted.”

Community and Public Sector Union Tasmania general secretary Thirza White said new offer was being considered.

“We have received new revised offers for the majority of the agreements which have seen significant shifts in pay and conditions,” she said.

“It’s an improvement on the last final offer in terms of both pay and conditions.”

She said the package would affect different workers in different ways and going through the detail would take time.

“It’s really complex and we’ll need time to go through he details and see whether it meets the threshold and whether it addresses the issue around recruitment and retention,” Ms White said.