Federal Court - 3% per year? You’ve got to be kidding!
30 April 2008, 2:12pm
Management has responded to our claim for a fair pay rise with an offer of 3% per year.
3% per year is a lot less then the current CPI figures – 4.2% - and much less
than the public sector average – 4.3% (DEEWR Trends in Bargaining December
Quarter 2007)
What about other agencies?
In 2007, CPSU campaigns supported by strong, active membership delivered
about 60 new collective agreements with an average wage increase of 4.3%. This
includes other Attorney General portfolio agencies like the Family Court (4.4%)
at Attorney General's Department itself (4.5%).
Sending the wrong message
A recent Australian National Audit office report has found that 88% of APS
agencies are struggling to attract suitable staff. Its hard to see how a 3% pay
offer is competitive with other Federal Departments, let alone the private
sector. It begs the question – are Federal Court management serious about
attracting and retaining talented employees in a competitive labour market?
How do we win a decent pay rise too?
To win we need to be strong, we need to be able to demonstrate majority union
membership. Federal Court staff are still short of the majority membership
threshold that can deliver the bargaining power necessary to progress our claim
for a fair pay rise that keeps up with market rates. When faced with
sub-standard offers, Family Court and AGD staff won decent pay outcomes by
joining their union and demonstrating their support for their claim.
What can you do?
With majority union membership in the Federal Court we can win decent pay and
conditions.
