Liverpool Girls High School Federation Representative Nik Cironis addressed a rally outside Governor Macquarie Tower in Farrer Place Sydney during the Unions NSW Day of Action on July 30. The rally called on Premier Morris Iemma to intervene in the public sector wage dispute.

Public sector workers after decent wage increases

By

Brenda Seymour

Several unions expect salary increases above the cost of living.

NSW nurses recently voted to accept the NSW Government offer of a 3.9 per cent per annum pay increase for two years which does not detract from the capacity for the nurses' union to approach the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to bring a case regarding penalty payments for night rates and higher pay for experienced nurses and nurses in management positions.

Catholic World Youth Day proved crucial to a settlement for State Transit workers, as proposed industrial action during the week of World Youth Day was avoided by the NSW Government's offer of a four per cent per annum pay increase for two years with retrospectivity to April 2008. This settlement does not affect the union's bargaining power around any new initiatives introduced in the life of the agreement.

The transit workers have also been informed by the Government of what it would require from them for the four per cent to become a five per cent per annum pay increase.

The Health Services Union has agreed to settle for a 3.9 per cent per annum pay increase for their workers for three years.

There has been a settlement for Victorian public school teachers, and West Australian public school teachers are voting on a proposal. Essentially these states have initially caught up with NSW teacher pay rates.

The Victorian school teacher rates contain a maximum rate for an 'expert' teacher of $81,806 by January 1, 2011 and for Western Australia a senior school teacher rate of $86,953 by January 1, 2011. By comparison, under Federation's current pay claim for the top of the common incremental salary scale is for $88,060 at January 1, 2011.

Federation took part with other public sector unions in a Day of Action on July 30, launched in the context of the Sydney Morning Herald (July 24) reporting a rise in costs for petrol of 18 per cent, rent eight per cent, health six per cent and a cost of living rise in the last year of 4.5 per cent.

The day of publicity is to show how lousy the 2.5 per cent per annum pay rise is as a NSW Government bargaining position and the essential government services that are put at risk by the Government's meagre investment in public sector services.

The 2.5 per cent per annum pay rise is also set within the Government's policy of no back pay until an actual award is made which reflects the settlement.

It is of interest that the no back pay policy was abandoned by the NSW Government when it wanted the Formula One Boat Race and the Catholic World Youth Day events to proceed undisturbed by industrial action by public sector workers.

Fire-fighters (who have already been awarded a 2.5 per cent pay increase for six months by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission), police and teachers all expect to settle for their members in excess of the cost of living projected for the next two or three years.

As well, Federation is attempting to improve the benefits for members in the successor state superannuation schemes State Authorities Super Scheme and First State Super, by its application for a Death and Invalidity award in the Industrial Relations Commission.

The Death and Invalidity award application may be heard in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission this month.

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

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