❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding a pay agreement with the AMWU for DFES technicians, alleging it violates public sector wages policy and implies favouritism. The Premier denies the policy is broken, explains the pay adjustment as a reclassification, and dismisses the influence of the AMWU.
AnsweredQoN 727Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC SECTOR —
WAGES
727. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I
refer to the pay agreement brokered between the Premier's government
and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union a fortnight ago,
which delivered Department of Fire and Emergency Services technicians a total
pay rise in excess of 20 per cent, contrary to the existing public sector wages
policy.
(1) Does the Premier admit that his
blanket wages policy is now broken?
(2) What message does this send to
nurses and other frontline service workers who have received far less?
(3) Can the
Premier confirm to the house that this decision was not made because of the
pivotal role the AMWU played in securing his premiership?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Members, the Premier.
WAGES
727. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I
refer to the pay agreement brokered between the Premier's government
and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union a fortnight ago,
which delivered Department of Fire and Emergency Services technicians a total
pay rise in excess of 20 per cent, contrary to the existing public sector wages
policy.
(1) Does the Premier admit that his
blanket wages policy is now broken?
(2) What message does this send to
nurses and other frontline service workers who have received far less?
(3) Can the
Premier confirm to the house that this decision was not made because of the
pivotal role the AMWU played in securing his premiership?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Members, the Premier.
AnswerView source ↗
(1) No.
(2) My
understanding is that these particular workers did not receive a pay increase.
They had their jobs reclassified as a result
of an examination undertaken on their duties performed and, therefore, the
assignment of their particular pay classification. I am listening to the
minister on my right shoulder, to whom the question should have delivered. This
reclassification was undertaken by former Chief Commissioner of the Western Australian
Industrial Relations Commission, Tony Beech. As a result of that
reclassification, they are paid according to the duties that they perform. This
happens all the time. I think this is the same accusation that the member made
about some prison officers as well. Again, he said that that was against the
wages policy and that is just not true. It is simply not true.
Mr W.J. Johnston : We offered
an extra classification to the nurses and they turned it down.
Mr R.H. COOK : Okay, that is
another good point, none of which I am particularly across the detail of. We
are very pleased with the way that our public wages policy has been embraced by
the public sector workforce. Over 90 per cent
of public sector workers have now accepted pay offers in the context of that
particular thing. Only one union sits outside that process at the moment
and that is the Australian Nursing Federation. Those discussions continue and
we continue to invite the nursing federation to engage with the government in
good faith to complete those negotiations so that its members can continue to
get wage rises that they undoubtedly deserve.
(3) The final question the member asked was about the
influence of the AMWU. That is, of course, a ridiculous claim, and, as
the member well knows, that is not my union.
(2) My
understanding is that these particular workers did not receive a pay increase.
They had their jobs reclassified as a result
of an examination undertaken on their duties performed and, therefore, the
assignment of their particular pay classification. I am listening to the
minister on my right shoulder, to whom the question should have delivered. This
reclassification was undertaken by former Chief Commissioner of the Western Australian
Industrial Relations Commission, Tony Beech. As a result of that
reclassification, they are paid according to the duties that they perform. This
happens all the time. I think this is the same accusation that the member made
about some prison officers as well. Again, he said that that was against the
wages policy and that is just not true. It is simply not true.
Mr W.J. Johnston : We offered
an extra classification to the nurses and they turned it down.
Mr R.H. COOK : Okay, that is
another good point, none of which I am particularly across the detail of. We
are very pleased with the way that our public wages policy has been embraced by
the public sector workforce. Over 90 per cent
of public sector workers have now accepted pay offers in the context of that
particular thing. Only one union sits outside that process at the moment
and that is the Australian Nursing Federation. Those discussions continue and
we continue to invite the nursing federation to engage with the government in
good faith to complete those negotiations so that its members can continue to
get wage rises that they undoubtedly deserve.
(3) The final question the member asked was about the
influence of the AMWU. That is, of course, a ridiculous claim, and, as
the member well knows, that is not my union.
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