Pay increase – A roadmap

2016 Salaries Claim

The Crown Employees (Public Service – Salaries 2015) Award expires on 30 June 2016.

As members are aware, the State Liberal Government passed a series of legislative changes to prevent the independence of the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) in determining fair pay for public sector workers.

Specifically, they introduced a new section 146C, which mandates that “the Commission must… give effect to any government policy on conditions of employment of public sector employees”. The PSA took its challenge to this legislation all the way to the High Court.  However, the legislation was found to be valid.

The NSW Public Sector Wages Policy prevents all public sector unions obtaining salary increases above the 2.5 percent restriction without the trade-off of conditions. These trade-offs require that savings are proven and costed prior to an increase being considered.

In order to ensure the pay rise will be paid from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2016, the PSA has lodged award applications in the IRC for the Salaries Award and 12 related Awards (SAS Trustee Corporation, Landcom, Local Land Services, ITSR, Skilled Trades, Wages Staff, ICAC, IPART, RMS, Transport for NSW, Audit Office and Service NSW).

On 29 April 2016, the Association was before the IRC to set dates for these matters to be heard.

The Association hopes to be able to reach consent with the Government to ensure the maximum pay increase of 2.5 percent is paid without arbitration in the Commission.

The PSA has commenced discussions with NSW Industrial Relations, however, at this stage, they do not have instructions from the Government on what can be formally offered.

Once the PSA has an offer from NSW Industrial Relations we will consult with members through our “Your Pay, Your Say” vote.