Fair pay rise offer of 2.5 per cent for Queensland public servants

Queensland public servants have been offered a 2.5 per cent annual pay rise over the next three years, with the Palaszczuk Government reaching an in-principle agreement with 48,000 State employees and key unions.

Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations Curtis Pitt said the in-principle agreement was financially responsible and followed months of productive negotiations with workers and unions after three years of inaction under the former LNP government.

Mr Pitt said the previous agreement covering approximately 48,000 public sector employees expired on 31 July, 2012 and has been stalled in arbitration since January 2013.

“We’ve negotiated in good faith with Queensland public sector workers to secure this in-principle agreement,” he said.

“It’s a just reward for hardworking public servants who were forced to endure three years of intransigence and attacks on their pay and conditions from the LNP.

“It’s hardly surprising Campbell Newman and the LNP were unable to secure a replacement agreement given they were busy sacking public sector employees and cutting services.

“The LNP denied Queensland core public servants any pay rises for 16 months but the good news is that there’s relief in sight prior to the Christmas break.

“The in-principle deal provides a well-earned pay increase of 2.5 per cent a year for the next three years, which is only fair for the workers who provide essential services for Queensland.

“This agreement is both financially responsible for the state and fair for employees covered by the Core Agreement.”

Under the in-principle deal, workers covered by the Core Agreement will receive annual increments of 2.5% from 1 September 2015, 2.5% from 1 September 2016 and 2.5% from 1 September 2017.

The in-principle agreement will also see workers under the Core receive a one-off $1,300 payment in lieu of back pay in recognition of the significant period of time that wage increases were stalled in arbitration under the LNP.

“The Palaszczuk Government has restored the balance to Queensland’s industrial relations system,” Mr Pitt said.

“The State’s public servants will now get appropriate pay for their efforts and that’s something I think all Queenslanders will support.”