PSA Day of Action 8 June: Central West members directed to STRIKE for 24 hours!

June 2, 2022 Bulletins

All members across the PSA will be taking industrial action on 8 June 2022.

All members are directed to STRIKE on this day!

Last week, the PSA held its Annual Conference, in which delegates and members overwhelmingly supported the PSA’s campaign for a fair wage increase. As a result, a motion was passed endorsing a state wide 24-hour stop work on Wednesday 8 June 2022, for all members working across the NSW Public Sector. Members working in critical frontline roles may need to remain at work to ensure community safety.

For members in Bathurst and surrounds, we will assemble at 10.00 am outside of Paul Toole MP’s office at 229 Howick Street.

Then at 10:30am we will go to Panthers to watch the broadcast of the Sydney PSA Day of Action in front of Parliament House.

For members in Dubbo and surrounds, we will assemble at 10.00 am outside of Dugald Saunders MP’s office at 18 Talbragar Street.

Then at 10:30am we will go to Club Dubbo to watch the broadcast of the Sydney PSA Day of Action in front of Parliament House.

Watch the video of the announcement HERE.

The motion passed by delegates states that, in the event that the PSA does not receive a wage offer that addresses inflation and the cost of living by close of business Monday 6 June 2022, this meeting endorses a campaign of industrial action to commence on 8 June 2022.

Reasons for our stop work

The Perrottet Government has continued to refuse to rescind its unfair and unjust workplace laws that cap wage rises at 2.5 per cent. As its wages policy also includes any federally legislated superannuation increases, this means its policy allows for a wage rise of just 2.04 per cent and a 0.5 per cent rise in superannuation. The current rate of inflation is 5.1 per cent. The Perrottet Government already cut wages in 2020 by capping wage rises to 0.3 per cent per cent for NSW Public Sector Workers. A wage rise of 2.04 per cent in 2022 will mean an effective pay cut of 3.06 per cent.

The Public Sector Needs a Pay Rise

In 2011, the NSW Liberal-National Government introduced the NSW Public Sector Wages Policy. This means whenever the PSA lodges a pay claim, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission is limited by law to awarding no more than 2.5 per cent, no matter how strong our case. Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe warned in 2019 that public sector pay caps are entrenching low wage growth and wanted them lifted to at least three per cent.

The NSW Government must remove the cap on Public Sector wages. If wages fail to keep pace with inflation, the NSW Government will oversee an enormous drop in living standards for the people of our state. As the largest employer in the state, its well past time for the Perrottet Government to act.

If you have not already signed our petition or sent a letter to your MP demanding an end to the unfair cap, please do so now.

Non-members

If you know anyone who is not a member who would like to join the campaign to seek a fair and reasonable pay rise, ask them to join the PSA today at www.psa.asn.au to ensure they can participate in the PSA Day of Action.

Only PSA members are protected when taking industrial action.