The CPSU is urging the Territory's 14,000 public servants to reject a proposed new agreement because it contains cuts to important workplace conditions and a low pay rise compared to other Federal, State and Territory agreements.
CPSU NT Secretary David Villegas says the low pay offer in the proposed agreement is a slap in the face for hard-working public sector staff, and the cuts to redundancy protections will make it easier for the NT Government to sack employees.
"The NTPS Agreement covers 14000 public servants sets the for pay and conditions across the Northern Territory," said Mr Villegas.
"It is an opportunity for governments to make positive changes that will help attract and retain the quality workers to the NT.
"Unfortunately, the Government has rejected that opportunity and come up with a shabby proposal that will punish current employees and turn off future ones.
"Flexible work conditions like Work From Home have a significant impact on an organisation's capacity to attract and retain high quality staff. They are increasingly common in the public and private sector across Australia. Rather than use this agreement to make the NT a more attractive place for people to work and live, the NT Government has offered nothing," said Mr Villegas.
Unions have also accused the Government of low-balling staff on pay, putting forward increases that lag well behind offers in parts of the country. The NT Government are offering just 3% a year, over three years, whereas NSW public servants secured 4%, 3.5% and 3%, and QLD offered public servants 4%, 4% and 3%.
"The Government keeps saying they can't offer anyone more than 3% because that's what in the bargaining policy. Yet they just offered police officers 5%, 4% and 3%. while the CPSU supports and welcomes this outcome for the police, it raises serious concerns about the fairness of the government's approach to bargaining, particularly while the NTPS has such high staff turnover rates."
"We need a strong public service to continue providing services for the Northern Territory. This proposed agreement is not up to scratch. We encourage all public sectors to vote no to the proposed agreement and force the government to come back to the table with a better offer," said Mr Villegas.
