Public servants voice salary cap anger
BY MARIO CHRISTODOULOUAND MICHELLE HOCTOR
31 Jul, 2008 04:37 PM
Police, ambulance officers, firefighters and other public servants staged a protest yesterday against the NSW Government's 2.5 per cent cap on public sector wage increases.
In what could be a sign of things to come, firefighters walked off the job and police had a "no fine day" to show the Government what they thought of the 2.5 per cent wage offer.
Outside Minister for the Illawarra David Campbell's office representatives from emergency services and other public bodies voiced their anger at the pay offer.
"It remains to be seen whether these thickhead politicians will get the message that the public service sectors are moving as one and there could be some serious trouble on the horizon - unprecedented," said NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union regional secretary Darin Sullivan.
"It is difficult for emergency workers to take direct action without affecting the local community, but human beings can only be pushed so far and when your family is threatened and your way of life is threatened then you are forced to take certain action.
"If firefighters have to withdraw our labour then that's what we have to do."
Wollongong Police Association official Sergeant Bob Minns said police work had not been rewarded.
He said it was important the public service spoke with one voice.
"It's disappointing that for the good work that we are doing, that we are capped to a 2.5 per cent (increase). My members can't believe we are not worth more than 2.5 per cent," he said.
"As a branch official I feel confident we will achieve a fair pay deal but to get to that point will be a very long road."
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said the campaign would escalate if needed, to ensure public sector workers received a just and fair outcome.
"Having firefighters, police, ambos, teachers, RTA workers and many other public service workers together indicates the level of frustration and disgust with the State Government's policies of real wage cuts for the public sector," he said.
Meantime, this morning, the state's 3000 ambulance officers will learn via teleconference the outcome of negotiations with Health Minister Reba Meagher.
Ms Meagher agreed to meet ambulance officers yesterday, to discuss a commitment that the Government employ an additional 300 new recruits this year.
The decision ended a five-day statewide paperwork strike, during which ambulance officers provided free transport.
An Illawarra Health Services Union spokesman said the results of negotiations so far would be announced this morning.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/public-servants-vo...
No comments:
Post a Comment