Manual Workers reject Pay Award

03 October 2006

Deputy Chief Minister Senator Terry Le Sueur says he is ‘disappointed’ at the States manual workers’ rejection of this year’s cost of living pay award.

In the absence of the Chief Minister, the Senator is acting as chairman of the States Employment Board, which will meet in the near future to assess the situation.

The Board was established, following the move to ministerial government, to have responsibility for managing all public employees, ensuring that employment policy is applied consistently and is coordinated with other States decisions. The 2006 pay offer complements this year’s business plan, in which the States agreed to ensure that pay rises do not exceed the increase in the cost of living (as at March) in order to cut the growth in spending on the public service.

Public sector staff have been given a choice of 2.4% for one year, or 2.5% for both 2006 and 2007, which would give them a two year agreement. Of all the pay groups involved in pay negotiations, only the police have so far settled, opting for the two year deal.