Budget 2019; Wages restrictions a disservice to the community

BUDGET 2019; WAGES RESTRICTIONS A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY 

STATEMENT: Quotes attributable to Melanie Bray ACTING BRANCH SECRETARY OF CPSU/CSA

Public sector workers will be disappointed to see this budget still contains the government’s restrictive $1000 Wages Policy. 

With fees and Charges increasing an average of two per cent, water increasing 2.5 per cent and motor vehicle registration increasing three per cent, Wages Policy does not keep up with the cost-of-living for an average public sector worker.

The thousands of workers that make up the Public Sector play a significant role in the WA Economy. 

A pay rise that values the work they do means they are investing back into their local communities and small businesses. This is particularly true in regional areas, where in some towns the public sector is the biggest employer.

We welcome initiatives like the introduction of Domestic Violence hubs and expansion of community monitoring, a critical service provided by public sector workers. 

All the initiatives and announcements in today’s budget are nothing without a strong public sector to implement and maintain them. 

We aren’t going to let the government downplay the scale and scope of what the public sector achieves for WA.