United Voice News
Government workers will fight wages cap
More than 150 LHMU members met today to launch their campaign against the state government’s unfair wages cap.
Cleaners, gardeners and education assistants from public schools all over Perth agreed to take a stand against the Liberal government’s wages cap of 2.5%, 2.5% and 3% over three years.
The government education EBA expires at the end of 2009, and will be one of the first Agreements to be negotiated under the wages cap.
“Troy Buswell has made it clear that, under his government, low paid workers will bear the brunt of the recession,” said LHMU Secretary Dave Kelly.
“This public sector wages cap is going to hurt those at lower end of the pay scale the most. Many of these people and their families are already struggling.
“Troy Buswell found $119m for teachers in state schools around the time of the election, but doesn’t think other school employees deserve a fair pay rise, to help pay for the huge increase in household charges that he has imposed on them.
“The Liberal party campaigned at the last election on the fact that many West Australians have not seen any benefits of the boom. In his government’s first term, Troy Buswell intends to hurt those people the most.
“LHMU members are a vital part of the school communities they work in and this government needs recognise this.”
