Wage offer made to unions

A fair, reasonable and affordable offer that will deliver a salary increase for Tasmanian State Service employees has been presented to union representatives today.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the one-year rollover offer of a 3 per cent salary increase, while maintaining all other agreement terms and conditions, provided fair outcomes for employees while also being fiscally responsible.

“This offer recognises the need for State Service employees to receive a fair, reasonable and affordable pay rise while also respecting the action we need to take on budget repair,” Premier Rockliff said.

The wage offer is well above Tasmania’s annual inflation rate of 1.7 per cent.

Negotiations between Government and unions began earlier this year to replace 16 industrial agreements that covered most of Tasmania’s 36,000 State Service employees.

The one-year rollover agreement allows for TSS employees to receive a fair pay increase, while also providing sufficient time for longer-term agreements to be reached.

The Government will continue good faith discussions with all public sector unions before the end of the year to develop longer-term agreements if the offer is accepted.

“Tasmania needs to have a sustainable public service that is valued and operates as effectively and efficiently as possible,” Premier Rockliff said.

“We are focused on increasing productivity across the State Service and supporting both the professional development and capacity of our workforce.

“I encourage the unions to put this offer to their members as a matter of urgency to ensure our hard-working employees get a pay rise as soon as possible.”