Monday 18 December 2024
After nearly seven years of restrictive and damaging Wages Policy caps, the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA) welcomes the Cook Government’s announcement of a return to genuine public sector bargaining.
The Public Sector Civil Service Association Agreement 2022 expires on 13 June 2024, and discussions with members across the sector are currently underway to build their Log of Claims for the replacement agreement.
The CPSU/CSA is adamant that the return to genuine bargaining must facilitate the negotiation of real wage increases that enable public sector workers to catch up and keep up with the cost of living pressures.
CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary, Rikki Hendon, welcomes the return to genuine bargaining for public sector wages and conditions and looks forward to working collaboratively with the WA Cook Labor Government to ensure the ongoing delivery of crucial public services by adequately paying public sector workers.
“Today marks an important win - the end of restrictive wage rise caps as a key feature of the WA Government’s public sector wages policy.
“Public sector staff across Western Australia can today thank union members who have spent years taking action, sharing their stories and explaining to the WA Government how restrictive wages policies have harmed their home lives and put the delivery of public services at risk.
“Critical WA public services ranging from child protection to environmental regulation are losing skilled, dedicated workers to other sectors and failing to attract new staff to fill vacant positions as a result of uncompetitive wages. This hurts our communities and our economy.
“It is now imperative that the Government and Unions come to the bargaining table ready to negotiate agreements that deliver real wage growth for public sector workers.
“The CPSU/CSA stands united with its Public Sector Alliance partners in calling on the Government to deliver wages growth of 7% and 5% over the next two years to begin to repair the damage of years of low wages growth under suppressive government policies.”
The CPSU/CSA will lodge its Log of Claims for its members’ pay and conditions in early 2024.
ENDS
The CPSU/CSA covers 44,000 general public sector workers including child protection officers, youth custodial officers, park rangers, Perth Zoo veterinary scientists and dental technicians.
For more information or to arrange further comment from Branch Secretary Rikki Hendon:
Communications & Engagement Office
M: 0421 934 794
