New policy helps produce agreement on public sector pay rise

25/8/95

The State Government's new policy on pay rises for public sector workers has helped produce an agreement on a pay rise for more than 20,000 public servants.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath said the agreement between the Government and Civil Service Association which was registered in the WA Industrial Relations Commission this afternoon, would give public servants who negotiate successful workplace or enterprise agreements a pay rise of seven per cent or more over the next two years.

"This agreement shows that unions which are prepared to negotiate with Government make their members winners," Mr Kierath said.

"We have police and now the CSA which have been prepared to negotiate within the State system and reach agreement, so one must wonder why nurses and teachers are refusing to talk.

"I believe those who will not negotiate are pushing a purely political agenda and are trying to get Federal award coverage at the expense of their members."

Mr Kierath said the CSA negotiated deal would provide a wage rise based on productivity improvements and cost savings.

It would be paid in instalments of four per cent next January, two per cent next July and one per cent in January 1997.

Individual departments and employees could apply to vary the timing to suit their own circumstances.

The agreement was in settlement of the claim for an eight-and-a-half per cent and $20 a week across the board increase which was lodged by the CSA last October.

The increase would be on top of the two $8 per week safety net rises already received by public servants through the Commission, but would absorb the third $8 due next July.

Under the agreement, there would be a uniform, multi-stage dispute settling procedure to help agencies reach agreement without having to fall back on arbitration which would only be used as a last resort.

"The end of the Government policy of no supplementation of pay rises, which saw $60 million set aside in the State Budget, provided the incentive needed to reach agreement.

"I am sure this will mark the start of a co-operative approach to agency bargaining in the public sector.

"Although disagreements are still likely to occur, this agreement should create agency bargaining as the mechanism through which public servants can access future improvements in pay and working conditions."

Media contact:  Caroline Lacy 222 9595 / 481 2133