The NSW Public Service Association has condemned the NSW Government’s Industrial Commission application to slash the job security, conditions and benefits of up to 100,000 public sector workers in NSW.
The Government has proposed radical cuts to conditions, including:
- Cutting leave loading;
- Cutting penalty payments for shift workers;
- Cutting allowances for living in remote areas;
- Winding back carers’ leave; and
- Tightening rules around parental leave to exclude long-term foster carers, surrogate parents and kinship care arrangements.
General Secretary John Cahill said the plans were a disgraceful further attack on the public sector workers, with the removal of conditions coming on top of a proposed 15,000 job cut.
“The union will resist any and all proposals by the O’Farrell Government to wind back the hard-fought for benefits and conditions for public service staff,” Mr Cahill said today.
“These changes will leave tens of thousands of workers – including prison officers, park rangers, disability support workers, school support staff and community services case workers – out of pocket.
“The proposal, when coupled with an existing 2.5% wage cap and ongoing staff cutbacks, reduces public sector workers to second class status – less pay, fewer benefits and more insecure employment.
“It will have flow-on effects across the economy and the community. Regional NSW will be hard hit by wage cuts and the loss of incentives for workers living in remote areas.
“Industrial action against the proposal will start with stop-work meetings across NSW on October 8, where we will discuss stepping up efforts against the attack.
“We simply can’s stand aside as the O’Farrell Government attempts to dismantle the decent system of fair pay and conditions fought for by workers for years,” Mr Cahill said.
Contact: John Cahill 0419 413 577 / Jane Garcia 0434 489 533