$60 per week increase for eligible employees and up to $3,000 cost of living payment
More than 16,000 education assistants, cleaners and gardeners - mainly employed by the Department of Education - have accepted the State Government's wages policy.
Over 98.7 per cent of United Workers Union members who voted were in support of the two agreements.
Employees covered by the agreements will receive a $60 per week increase from 1 January 2023. Department of Education will be administering one-off cost of living payments of up to $3,000 in the coming weeks, with employees to receive their payment before Christmas.
The replacement agreement for education assistants includes several new and improved conditions of employment, including:
- a new classification for employees providing support to special needs students in Education Support Centres and Education Support Schools; and
- an allowance for employees with a NAATI recognised Auslan qualification, in acknowledgement of the educational outcomes it supports in delivering for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Cleaners and gardeners have secured further enhancements to employment conditions and greater workplace flexibilities.
Agreement from these groups takes the total number of public sector employees who have accepted the State Government's public sector wages policy to over 79,000.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston:
"I'm pleased United Workers Union members have endorsed the offer and commend the union for their commitment to reaching this positive outcome.
"The McGowan Government is pleased that public sector unions and the workforces they represent are accepting our revision to wages policy.
"We look forward to securing more negotiated settlements before Christmas.
"Under this policy, a Level 1 cleaner - whose annual salary is $52,490 - will receive the equivalent of an 11.68 per cent increase in the first year, inclusive of the one-off cost of living payment."
