One-time cost-of-live payment also given out for part-time employees
Public sector nurses, midwives, and police officers from Western Australia are in for a massive pay rise as the government vows to fast track the increase.
Eligible nurses and midwives will get a wage increase between three per cent to 4.5%, with backpay from October 12, 2022. Police officers will receive a wage hike of three per cent to 5.3%%, with back pay from July 1.
They will all receive a one-off $3,000 cost-of-living payment, which will be on a pro-rata basis for casual and part-time employees.
The pay rise is expected to impact 18,500 nurses and midwives in the public health system, as well as over 7,000 police officers, according to the Western Australia government.
"Our police do an exceptional job in difficult circumstances and deserve this pay rise, which is why the McGowan Government has decided to back pay police to 1 July 2022 – when their last agreement expired," said Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston.
The increase the employees will receive are in line with the State Wages Policy, which grants public sector employees a minimum of $3,130 increase.
"Our State Wages Policy delivers real cost-of-living relief by boosting the pay of nurses and midwives as well as implementation of nurse and midwife to patient ratios - a historic reform," said Premier Mark McGowan.
In August, the WA government enhanced the public sector wages policy to include a 3% wage increase per annum for two years and a sector-wide, one-off $2,500 cost-of-living payment.
Industrial agreement negotiations to continu
Around 112,000 public sector workers are already benefiting from the State Wages Policy. But midwives, nurses, and police officers have yet to experience the increase under the policy as their unions demand more pay.
By deciding to fast-track the payments, McGowan said employees won't have to wait for more time while an agreement is sought with the unions.
Discussions with the unions involved, namely Australian Nursing Federation and the WA Police Union, will also continue until an agreement is reached, assured Johnston.
"The McGowan Government remains committed to the agreement it reached with the Australian Nurses Federation in front of the WAIRC (WA Industrial Relations Commission) and looks forward to continuing discussions with the union in the new year to conclude an agreement," Johnston said.
"The government has already made a generous offer, which we will fast-track to deliver earlier cost of living relief to workers while we continue to negotiate with the union."
