Mass exodus looms as cashed up Queensland go after NSW workers
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Published August 9, 2023
The Daily Telegraph, 9th August 2023
Thousands of frontline workers will “slap on the sunscreen and move to Queensland” unless the state government comes up with a better wage offer, a key union leader has warned.
Thousands of frontline workers will “slap on the sunscreen and move to Queensland” unless the state government comes up with a better wage offer, a key union leader has warned.
The warning from Health Services Union boss Gerard Hayes came after tensions between the government and teachers boiled over on Monday wit Premier Chris Minns abused during a flying visit to Griffith. After months of skirmishes between Mr Minns and the union movement, Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey has declared the government is at a “pivotal” moment, where the Premier must deliver his election promise for higher wages or risk losing unions’ support.
It comes amid increasing vacancies across a number of key sectors, which unions blame on insufficient pay and poor conditions.
During his visit to Griffith, Mr Minns was heckled by furious teachers who labelled the Premier “gutless” as his limo drove past them and onto the airport tarmac to fly home rather than speaking to them. “Go back to your city,” one protester shouted. “We put you in, we’ll get you out.”
Despite Labor promising to increase the number of teachers in classrooms, the number of vacancies has gone up.
At the start of Term 3, there were 2023 full-time-equivalent vacancies in public schools, compared to 1,820 vacancies in May.
The teachers union has declared war on the government, accusing the Premier of “betrayal” over its proposed 4.5 per cent pay offer. The union promised to walk out on senior Ministers visiting schools across the state in its campaign for a better deal.
The NSW Teachers Federation says teachers from 100 kilometres around Canberra are fleeing the state in search of better pay.
According to Unions NSW data from January, a new teacher earns $75,791 in NSW.
In the ACT, they are offered $78,325 – more than $2500 extra. Thousands of healthcare workers could also head north to Queensland unless Mr Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey offer a better deal, the union has warned.
“If we are so determined to drive our health and hospital workers interstate, we may as well give them a tube of sunscreen and a Maroons jersey,” Mr Hayes said.
Mr Morey warned that if the government cannot deliver better pay and conditions, it may lose support of the labour movement.
“If (the government) doesn’t deliver on their promises, they’re not going to have the support of the workforce and therefore they won’t have the support of the unions going forward,” Mr Morey said.
In February, Unions NSW warned that 2023 would be the “year of the hike,” predicting that essential workers would be forced to leave their professions to make ends meet.
In June, the government offered all frontline workers a one-year 4.5 per cent pay rise, including a 0.5 per cent superannuation boost.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives association on Monday accepted the offer but promised to continue fighting for inflation-level pay rises.
The Public Services Association and Police Association both accepted the 4.5 per cent.