Bunbury public sector workers call for better offer in pay and conditions dispute

Bunbury public sector workers have taken action in an ongoing pay dispute with the State Government. About 50 workers at the Bunbury Regional Hospital and Bunbury schools left their jobs during lunch to protest outside the front of the hospital demanding better pay and conditions. The action was organised by both the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association, and the United Workers Union. Central to the demands of the UWU is a pay rise of 7 per cent along with a number of measures to support regional workers. According to CSPU/CSA branch secretary Rikki Hendon five regional-specific demands were requested but not included in the initial pay offer from the Government. They include improved access to the annual leave travel concession and creating a new inconvenience allowance for overnight work-related stays away from home. Also among the demands is the expansion of towns attracting the remote and isolated locations allowance, expanded access to personal leave travelling time and bringing the air-conditioning allowance into the agreement. Speaking to media at the rally, Ms Hendon said the State Government’s pay offer was not good enough. “We received a first offer for our members’ pay conditions and disappointingly the pay offer was less than that of other unions, less than that of other groups of workers the Government has made offers to. “Further, the five items that we put in our claim that was specifically about attracting and retaining workers in regional Western Australia. “That is not acceptable.” Negotiations between the UWU — which represents 150,000 workers across several industries — are ongoing according to the union, while Ms Hendon said the CSPU/CSA had taken a step back from talks after the Government’s previous proposal. The walk-off came the same day as action in Kununurra and follows a number of similar rallies elsewhere in the State over the past fortnight. Ms Hendon said further action was possible if demands weren’t met and conceded while efforts would be made to avoid it, impacts may be felt on patient care. A State Government spokesperson said the talks with the unions remained ongoing and in “good faith”. “The people who work in our public sector do a remarkable job and we continue to bargain with the CPSU/CSA in good faith,” they said. “We have provided an offer with some very meaningful improvements, including a significant boost in parental leave entitlements, and we’re committed to working with the union to reach agreement. “The State Government respects the right of unions to take industrial action, and we welcome further discussion and feedback on the details of the offer.” Teaching assistant and United Workers Union member Louise said she just wanted to be heard by the Government. “Please listen, please listen to us,” she said. “We do really, really love our jobs and we need to be paid what we’re worth.” Patient care assistant Jenny said staff numbers were dwindling at her workplace. “As patient care assistants we are very, very low in numbers,” she said. “We are struggling every single day to get people to stay here because it’s too expensive and people can’t afford it. “They’re looking at alternative places where they can afford that might be further out, but basically it means that we’re short-staffed and that impacts on the patient’s care.”