[Australia] Bid for public sector four-day workweek fails as pay falls short of demands

Requests from Australia’s public servants for a four-day workweek have been denied after the Government’s first offer refused a trial, 7News reports.

Amid pay negotiations for the Government’s biggest worker pool, 40,000 public sector workers were offered a pay rise of 11.75 per cent over the next three years.

The pay offer was reportedly smaller than the offer made to teachers for 12 per cent over three years, including a 5 per cent raise this year.

Rikki Hendon - CPSU/CSA branch secretary - told 7 News that the Union would take the deal to members however she raised concerns.

“The union notes the offer includes pay rises of 4.75 per cent, 4 per cent and 3 per cent across three years, which falls short of what has been offered for other public sector cohorts, and contains nothing for regional public sector workers, no movement on a four-day work week trial or improved superannuation,” Ms Hendon said.

“It is clear the Government has failed to grasp the severity of the attraction and retention crisis facing the public sector, which is affecting the delivery of WA’s public services.

“Union delegates will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to reject this offer and keep fighting for a better outcome.”

If members reject the deal industrial action will likely be the next step.

The CPSU reportedly called for consecutive pay rises of 7 per cent and 5 per cent over the next two years, and a “pilot program” to trial a four-day work week across the public sector, in its first log of claims.

The programme would see workers receiving their full pay packet for four days of work with the expectation that they would deliver 100 per cent of their productivity.

Speaking at the time, Ms Hendon said, “Our members have said that this is very important to them. This is one of the claims that has the highest support, if not the highest support other than pay (increases).”

“People do want to see flexibility in their workplaces. They do want to see this trial get up and to see if this is something that can change the shape of work for the better.

“What we found with a four day work week trial where it has been trialled, the results that come back tell us that people have less absenteeism. They’re happier, they’re more productive when they are at work.”

The CPSU reportedly used research from UnionsWA to back up its claim for more pay. It showed public servants were earning up to 12 per cent less after seven years of restrictive wage caps.

Source: 7News

(Quotes via original reporting)

Requests from Australia’s public servants for a four-day workweek have been denied after the Government’s first offer refused a trial, 7News reports.

Amid pay negotiations for the Government’s biggest worker pool, 40,000 public sector workers were offered a pay rise of 11.75 per cent over the next three years.

The pay offer was reportedly smaller than the offer made to teachers for 12 per cent over three years, including a 5 per cent raise this year.

Rikki Hendon - CPSU/CSA branch secretary - told 7 News that the Union would take the deal to members however she raised concerns.

“The union notes the offer includes pay rises of 4.75 per cent, 4 per cent and 3 per cent across three years, which falls short of what has been offered for other public sector cohorts, and contains nothing for regional public sector workers, no movement on a four-day work week trial or improved superannuation,” Ms Hendon said.

“It is clear the Government has failed to grasp the severity of the attraction and retention crisis facing the public sector, which is affecting the delivery of WA’s public services.

“Union delegates will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to reject this offer and keep fighting for a better outcome.”

If members reject the deal industrial action will likely be the next step.

The CPSU reportedly called for consecutive pay rises of 7 per cent and 5 per cent over the next two years, and a “pilot program” to trial a four-day work week across the public sector, in its first log of claims.

The programme would see workers receiving their full pay packet for four days of work with the expectation that they would deliver 100 per cent of their productivity.

Speaking at the time, Ms Hendon said, “Our members have said that this is very important to them. This is one of the claims that has the highest support, if not the highest support other than pay (increases).”

“People do want to see flexibility in their workplaces. They do want to see this trial get up and to see if this is something that can change the shape of work for the better.

“What we found with a four day work week trial where it has been trialled, the results that come back tell us that people have less absenteeism. They’re happier, they’re more productive when they are at work.”

The CPSU reportedly used research from UnionsWA to back up its claim for more pay. It showed public servants were earning up to 12 per cent less after seven years of restrictive wage caps.

Source: 7News

(Quotes via original reporting)