Tony Abbott’s offer of real pay rises to ADF personnel must be the start of a new approach to public sector bargaining, said Greens’ Employment spokesperson Adam Bandt MP.
“If the government can give real pay rises to ADF personnel, which we welcome, the government can do it in the public service too,” Mr Bandt said.
“The Abbott government has been pushing cuts in real wages and conditions for public servants, resulting in unprecedented levels of industrial action.”
“The Abbott government must now do for public servants what it has done for defence personnel and offer pay deals with real wage rises that don’t attack conditions.”
“Hopefully the welcome announcement for defence personnel is the beginning of the end for Tony Abbott and Eric Abetz’s hardline public sector bargaining policy.”
“In light of the ADF pay offer, Minister Eric Abetz must put his public service bargaining policy through the shredder and start again.”
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054