Firefighters analyse the State Government's pay offer.

Overwhelming support for salaries claim

By

Brenda Seymour

Workplaces have given overwhelming support for Federation's salaries, superannuation and the status of the profession claim.

For day 1, term 1, all workplaces were provided with a survey and background material which detailed the claim Federation's Annual Conference had made for salaries, superannuation and the status of the profession.

Workplaces were requested to indicate the support for the key planks of the claim.

There was overwhelming endorsement for:

• a five per cent per annum increase for each year of the award in all salaries and allowances (15 per cent)
• an additional one per cent increase at the top of the common incremental salary scale
• removing of step 7 of the salary scale to bolster step 8 so that those moving to step 8 in 2009 receive a double increment. This change would benefit teachers after three years of teaching and teachers at the top of the casual pay scale
• Federation to pursue the Unions NSW public sector union claim for one 1 per cent per annum increases in superannuation with priority given to those members in accumulation-only schemes (First State Super and equivalent).
• a three year award.

Confusion, however, was reported in responses regarding the priority in the superannuation claim being directed to those members in accumulation-only schemes. To address this issue Federation intends to present a vodcast on the superannuation aspect of the claim. Essentially, members of the original superannuation scheme, State Superannuation Scheme, can purchase more superannuation from pay rises than from increases to superannuation.

As well, to improve the death and disability benefits available to members in the successor superannuation schemes (State Authorities Superannuation Scheme and First State Super), Federation filed its Death and Disability award notice in the Industrial Relations Commission. The union has dates for hearing of the matter during the first two weeks in August 2008. The opportunity for a hearing at this time is welcomed.

As a consequence of the strong endorsement of the claim Federation will formally put its claim to government.

The NSW Government, under its wages policy, is offering only 2.5 per cent per annum as a fully funded salary increase. The Reserve Bank has projected inflation increases of more than three per cent for the next few years. Federation has rejected the Government's insulting policy. Also, Unions NSW have produced their economic evidence for the hearing of the State Wage Case 2008 and the evidence suggests that the NSW economy is robust.

Federation thanks members for their work and assistance with this important issue.

Brenda Seymour is Assistant General Secretary (Research and Industrial).

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April 2008 contents