MP's Wages Up - Workers Offered Less

  • 30 June 2014

Western Australia's politicians, judges and senior public servants will receive pay rises prompting calls for the Government to revise its offer to the State's 30,000 public servants.  Under a ruling by the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal, Members of Parliament will receive a flat increase of $5,585, meaning the Premier's salary will increase by 1.6 per cent, and a backbencher's will rise by 3.8 per cent.  The change brings a backbencher's salary to $154,223 per annum.  A 2.5 per cent increase will be applied to the salaries of the state judiciary, while senior public servants will receive a flat increase of $5,474.  Chief executives of local governments will receive a 3 per cent pay rise.  The announcement comes as the State Government refuses to budge on a hardline wages policy which caps pay rises to projected CPI for public servants for the next three years.  The Government remains locked in negotiations with the powerful Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) over the salary agreement for the State's 30,000 public servants.  CPSU's Toni Walkington said the union considered the tribunal's decision fair, and would be calling on the Government to revise its offer to public servants.  "Clearly, given the tribunal has considered all the factors the Government says ought to be considered in a wages policy," she said.  "Our members will be also thinking that the Government really needs to revise its offer."  CPSU members are currently voting on the State Government's current pay offer of 2.75 per cent in the first year, and 2.5 per cent over the following two.