ID :
200683
Thu, 08/11/2011 - 13:25
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http://m.oananews.org//node/200683
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Vic MPs' pay rise up in the air
SYDNEY (AAP) - Aug. 11 - Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu says he is yet to decide whether MPs deserve a bigger pay rise than police, teachers and nurses.
The government is involved in pay negotiations with the state's public servants, who have been offered pay increases of no more than 2.5 per cent, without productivity gains.
Victorian MPs received a three per cent pay rise effective July 1, as recommended by the independent Federal Remuneration Tribunal.
The government can alter the pay increase if it presents legislation to parliament, which resumes on Tuesday next week.
In 2009, the Labor government changed the law to enforce a temporary capping of pay rises for Victorian MPs at 2.5 per cent.
Asked on Thursday whether he would do the same, Mr Baillieu said: "We have made no decisions about that and we will have some discussions about that."
Community and Public Sector Union Victorian branch secretary Karen Batt said the MPs should have to show productivity gains for any pay rise above 2.5 per cent, which is the same requirement for public servants.
"It can't be one rule for the politicians and one rule for its workforce," she told AAP.
"It would seem hypocritical to accept more for no productivity trade-offs than you're offering your own workforce."
The CPSU wants an annual six per cent pay rise for the workers it represents, including child protection workers, prison officers and court staff.
Police Association secretary Greg Davies said the three per cent pay rise for MPs shows the hypocrisy of the government's public-sector wage policy.
The union is campaigning for a 4.5 per cent annual pay increase for police. In June, police across the state began industrial action, such as flashing their lights to alert motorists to speed camera locations.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said it was up to the government to decide whether or not to cap MP's wage increases.
"The issue is Victorians still don't know what Mr Baillieu's wages policy actually is and who it applies to," he said in a statement.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland said public servants should receive a pay increase at least in line with that of MPs.
They worked just as hard as parliamentarians did, she said.
The government is involved in pay negotiations with the state's public servants, who have been offered pay increases of no more than 2.5 per cent, without productivity gains.
Victorian MPs received a three per cent pay rise effective July 1, as recommended by the independent Federal Remuneration Tribunal.
The government can alter the pay increase if it presents legislation to parliament, which resumes on Tuesday next week.
In 2009, the Labor government changed the law to enforce a temporary capping of pay rises for Victorian MPs at 2.5 per cent.
Asked on Thursday whether he would do the same, Mr Baillieu said: "We have made no decisions about that and we will have some discussions about that."
Community and Public Sector Union Victorian branch secretary Karen Batt said the MPs should have to show productivity gains for any pay rise above 2.5 per cent, which is the same requirement for public servants.
"It can't be one rule for the politicians and one rule for its workforce," she told AAP.
"It would seem hypocritical to accept more for no productivity trade-offs than you're offering your own workforce."
The CPSU wants an annual six per cent pay rise for the workers it represents, including child protection workers, prison officers and court staff.
Police Association secretary Greg Davies said the three per cent pay rise for MPs shows the hypocrisy of the government's public-sector wage policy.
The union is campaigning for a 4.5 per cent annual pay increase for police. In June, police across the state began industrial action, such as flashing their lights to alert motorists to speed camera locations.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said it was up to the government to decide whether or not to cap MP's wage increases.
"The issue is Victorians still don't know what Mr Baillieu's wages policy actually is and who it applies to," he said in a statement.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland said public servants should receive a pay increase at least in line with that of MPs.
They worked just as hard as parliamentarians did, she said.
