Public sector workers rally for higher wage increase at Albany Town Square

An Albany education assistant said she had resorted to drawing down on her mortgage repayments to make ends meet during a rally calling for the State Government to review its public sector wages policy. More than 100 public sector workers rallied at Albany Town Square on Wednesday as part of co-ordinated action throughout WA with workers also gathering in Bunbury, Karratha, Geraldton, Northam and Broome as well as Parliament House in Perth. The action, led by health and education members from United Workers Union, is the latest in a series of similar walk-offs asking for the State Government to review its public sector wages policy. At the end of July a new policy was announced to offer a 3 per cent pay increase and a one-off cost of living payment of $2500, but it fell short of the 5 per cent being asked for by the unions. UWU public sector co-ordinator Kevin Sneddon said the revised policy was an improvement on the $1000 cap in place a year ago, but it still short-changed the State’s essential workers. “Unions were not consulted about the new policy which was announced by the Premier on Facebook a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “The one-off payment of $2500 will provide some relief but will be a sugar hit and in the second year wages will go backwards once more at a time where the cost of essentials such as food, fuel and housing are going through the roof. “Workers in the public sector have taken a pay cut year-on-year since McGowan was elected and it’s just not good enough.” Albany education assistant Belinda Haines said she attended the rally because public sector workers did “the right thing by Mark McGowan four years ago” when they accepted their wages being capped during the pandemic. “I did some calculations and for me the 3 per cent works out to be $10 a week before tax — that might get me a coffee,” she said. “The council has just increased our rates by 5 per cent and he’s not even offering us 5 per cent. “Fuel has gone up, groceries have gone up and I’m a middle-aged woman now accessing my mortgage repayments just to survive. I don’t want to buy a luxury villa in the south of France.” Ms Haines has worked at North Albany Senior High School for 15 years and had until recently worked a second job as a cook, but had to quit due to health issues. She said she had also looked at moving to the mining sector over the past two years. “But at my age would I handle 12-hour days?” she said. “I love my job though and we do this job because we love helping these kids that have extra needs,” she said. “There are a lot of older people working as EAs and we’re not getting the younger ones in — how do we get them in if they aren’t offered a decent wage?” UWU members were joined in Albany by members of the Prison Officers Union, Civil Service Alliance and Health Services Union. A spokeswoman for the Government said its enhanced wages policy showed it had been listening to public sector workers and the unions. She said public sector workers deserved a wage increase “and we’re glad we can deliver it responsibly given our strong budget management”. “Under the updated policy, someone who is a Level 3 patient care assistant, whose annual salary is $55,322, will receive the equivalent of a 7.5 per cent increase in the first year, inclusive of the one-off cost of living payment,” she said. “Part-time and casual public sector workers under the policy will also receive the same wage increases and a pro-rata cost of living payment.” “The policy strikes the right balance and provides a significant pay increase for workers, given the current inflationary pressures. The current CPI is temporary and is expected to taper off over time. “