Public Sector Wages

CPSU members face a Christmas sacking

Community and Public Sector Union members from the Department of Education and Training (DE&T) are protesting against the Bracks Government's plans to sack 334 workers.

CPSU state secretary Karen Batt said the the union "is committed to continue to support our members' fight against this baseless budget cut, no matter how long it takes".

The State Government intends to sack the workers from the Head Office of DE&T before Christmas, citing budgetary constraints and describing the positions as 'superfluous'.

The union commissioned Dr David Haywood from Swinburne University's Institute for Social Research to examine the Government's rationale for the cutbacks.

Dr Hawood told the rally that the Government's own framework for reviewing their budget was flawed.

He said that Victoria underspends on Head Office and that the cuts were clearly not necessary on a financial basis.

Australian Education Union president Mary Bluett said the Bracks Government was reneging on its election promise to make education a priority in Victoria.

Victorian Independent Education Union secretary Tony Keenan told the rally that unions expected core standards of a Labor Government in the area of industrial relations.

"Unions will not accept a Labor Government trying to play one worker off against another. We will not accept any pay increases on the backs of your jobs. You don't rob Peter to pay Paul. You fund education properly and respect workers.

VTHC secretary Leigh Hubbard said the proposed sackings would result in a reduction of the quality of education service delivery in Victoria.

"The Government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on programs that require monitoring and evaluation. The loss of jobs in this area will result in a reduction of the quality of service provision and impact on the whole education sector.

"Instead of sacking over 300 workers the Government should be creating an additional 300 jobs to ensure the quality of these programs."

CPSU secretary Karen Batt said it was time the State Government understood that 334 job losses from the Department would result in a reduction in the quality of service provision.

"If the Government goes ahead with these cuts it will mean that they have lied to the community. The last election was won on the basis that they would make education a priority. It is obvious to me, as it should be to the Government, that you all deliver a vital service to education and training in Victoria."

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/public_sector_wages/20031013_christmas.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005