On 27 October a PSA delegation met with the Member of Parliament for the seat of Lismore, Janelle Saffin, to discuss the effect of the unfair NSW public sector salary cap is having on workers in our region, as well as the impact of the Industrial Relation (Dispute Orders) Bill 2022 before the NSW Parliament that proposes to significantly increase penalties for unions that take industrial action.  The delegation was led by PSA Senior Vice President Juliette Sizer and Regional Organiser Michael Smart.

From left, Michael Smart (Regional Organiser), Maxine Stuart (PSA Delegate) , Hon. Janelle Saffin, Carol Erskine (PSA Delegate), Juliette Sizer (PSA Senior Vice President). 

The PSA delegation explained to Ms Saffin that while we are already buckling under unfair laws that do not allow our wages to keep pace with inflation, the situation for members in our region has been exacerbated by the recent devastating floods. And the threat of having our right to take industrial action withdrawn is adding fuel to a fire which is about to burn out of control.

When asked, Ms Saffin confirmed she is committed to the removal of the public sector wages cap, as well as not supporting the Industrial Relations (Dispute) Bill 2022. She was incredibly supportive of the work that PSA members do, in particular the critical role that we have all played in assisting rebuilding the Northern Rivers since this year’s flood disaster, as well as the work we did during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms Saffin was also very sympathetic to the difficult conditions many of our members work under, including chronic workload, inadequate facilities and under-resourcing, recognising the sometimes traumatic nature of some of these jobs.

It was encouraging to know that PSA members in the Lismore area have a local member who is so supportive.

Come to the next meeting to help arrange PSA delegations to other North Coast and Mid Coast MPs over the next few months to seek their commitment to NSW public sector workers.

Next meeting

Thursday 19 October
4:00pm-5:00pm

Register for beforehand HERE.

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Click here to join the meeting

Be active

If you’d like to be involved with the PSA’s North Coast Campaign Action Group please contact any of the following:

Rebecca Reilly Regional Organiser
Michael Smart Regional Organiser
Juliette Sizer Senior Vice President