1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,719 Speaker 1: Because we know the situation with plans for a public 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,240 Speaker 1: service wage free seem to be at a bit of 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: a standstill, with the territory public servants overwhelmingly rejecting a 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: paying conditions offer from the Commissioner for Public Employment that 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: would see they're wages frozen for four years. Now. Joining 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: me on the show is well from the CPSU, the 7 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: Community and Public Sector Union, the secretary Ka Densley, Good 8 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: morning to UK. 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: Good morning, Kay. 10 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: I understand ninety eight percent of those surveyed members had 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: voted to reject the government's terms. Is that the case? 12 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 2: That's certainly correct, and we've written through to the Commissioner 13 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 2: and outlined quite a number of issues that members raised. 14 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: We also included the comments that people made in the 15 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: survey results. There's thirty eight pages of them and it's 16 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: quite distressing reading them. So I think that the Commissioner 17 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: has had allowed out and clear message about this. 18 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: Okay, how many people took part in the survey, Ah, 19 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: there was more. 20 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 2: Than half our members who did that. I would like 21 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 2: to point out that we're not the only union involved 22 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 2: in the NTPs bargaining, so we've also got a United Workers' 23 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 2: Union ETU the nurses, teachers, et cetera. Some of them 24 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: have their own agreements, but they're all under the wages policy, 25 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: which is doing nothing really for four years. 26 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: So half of the members just to give our listeners 27 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: a bit of an idea of you know, how many 28 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 1: people that is, is it sort of one hundred two hundred. 29 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 2: No, it's a lot more than that. And it's a 30 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: lot of public servants. Yep. 31 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: Now, okay, what exactly do they not agree on when 32 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: it comes to this, you know, to what's been put forward. 33 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 2: Are their comments obviously about you know, the four year 34 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: length of the agreement. We don't know what's going to happen. 35 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: We're always hearing that we're the comeback capitals and that 36 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: the economy is burning et cetera, et cetera, and we're 37 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: growing fast and everywhere else. But you know, CPI six 38 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 2: point one percent last quarter. We know that rates have 39 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: gone up, we know that rents have gone up, et cetera, 40 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: et cetera. So the comments are coming back about effects 41 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: on their super the issues with them keeping up with 42 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: the cost of living, and you know, there's and also 43 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: because some of their conditions are not secured in the agreement, 44 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: so they do refuse to put some of the things 45 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: that they've already got into an agreement to lock that 46 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 2: in for the length of the agreement. So that's things 47 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 2: like remote localities and travel allow Okay. 48 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: Does this agreement include like our you know, our police 49 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,399 Speaker 1: officers and our nurses at the hospital and that kind 50 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: of thing as well. 51 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: I know they have their own agreements, but they're still 52 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: bound by this wages policy. So the Chief Minister slash 53 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 2: Treasurer has concocted the wages Policy, which basically says no 54 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 2: pay rise and four year agreements and a thousand dollars 55 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: bonus which is taxable and which actually comes out of 56 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: agency budgets. So they put that. You know, that wasn't 57 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 2: announced publicly, but it's very clear in the last budget, 58 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 2: pavisit that's what happened. So people are being able to 59 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 2: do more with less, and you know, if this goes 60 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 2: for four years, that'll be even moorse Okay. 61 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: I know that there's going to be so many people 62 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: that work in the private sector this morning who are 63 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: feeling a bit upset upon hearing this. You know, there's 64 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: still one thousand dollars annual bonus. Many in the private 65 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: sector don't even get that. In fact, some have had 66 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: their hours cut and continue to suffer the impact of lockdowns. 67 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: And indeed, COVID, why do public servants deserve a wage 68 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: increase greater than one thousand dollars for these four years? 69 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 2: Well, some of them, some of those people, and you know, 70 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 2: we don't like to see anyone out of work. And 71 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 2: in the NT we've been luckier than than majority of states, 72 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: and so yeah, that's good. And that's also thanks to 73 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 2: our public service for keeping a safe during the last 74 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 2: year and a half at least. So some of them 75 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: are probably married or partnered to a public servant that's 76 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 2: actually going to keep them going and be able to 77 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 2: stay in the territory. So we've got a large percentage 78 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: of our population is actually employed by the government and 79 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 2: you know, therefore they're able to support the local community. 80 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: So you know, if we're talking about people who are 81 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: in small business or in you know, other types of 82 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 2: local businesses, it's the public service workers who are getting 83 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: paid who were able to keep them going and have 84 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: done you know over the last year and a half, 85 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 2: especially with lockdowns et cetera. 86 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: Okay, a message come through on the tech line. It 87 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: says Gunner and co. Have destroyed the Northern Territory economy 88 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: and now they're trying to make the public service pay 89 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: for it. Do you think that's fair. 90 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 2: I think it's very fair, and you know he won't 91 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 2: talk to us about it. You know what, we wanted 92 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 2: to compromise and there must be a way forward that 93 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: our members would would like. So four years is too long. 94 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: We've asked for two. You know that there needs to 95 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: be some sort of humulive pay rise. So I think 96 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 2: that our members would consider a change in the pay 97 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: policy as well as some other factors which we've outlined 98 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 2: to them. And you know, this is going to have 99 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: really long term effects, especially people who are nearing retirement 100 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 2: about this superannuation and even young people. You're never going 101 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 2: to catch up with your superannuation. So I think that 102 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: they need to be reasonable and they need to talk 103 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:43,679 Speaker 2: to us. 104 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: Okay, what kind of public servant jobs are we talking 105 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: about here? 106 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 2: Oh, we talk about everything. So the wages policy actually 107 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 2: affects or the nurses and teachers which have their own agreement, 108 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: the police, and we've heard about you know how many 109 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 2: of them are thinking about leaving power water and Jacana 110 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: employers who have just rejected their offer as well. We've 111 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 2: got the contract traces, the policy people, we've got the 112 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: frontline workers in how they child protection. There's a huge 113 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: array of staff in here and we need them and 114 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 2: they're the ones that keep territories safe and the whole 115 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 2: place running. And they're they're working hard, they're working longer 116 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 2: hours than they are paid for in many cases. 117 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: Uh. 118 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 2: And this is the way here that they've said that 119 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: they've said thanks to them. So it's pretty rude. 120 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 1: Okay, where is this going to land? I mean you 121 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: said then that the Chief Minister hasn't met with you. 122 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: Where's this going to all Land? 123 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: Well, we're still in negotiations. The Commissioner gave revised offers 124 00:06:55,600 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: to Dacana and power Water, which was also rejected by 125 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: the members, and we're waiting to see with the NTPs 126 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: agreement about whether or not we'll get a revised offer 127 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: or not. I think ultimately you members are going to 128 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: have to go know to this to make the government 129 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 2: wake up. So some of the comments in here is 130 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 2: about how much waste as money thereas around the place, 131 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: and they see it all the time, and you know 132 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: they're the ones now that are being asked to pay 133 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: for it. So I think that there'll be a strong 134 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 2: no vote and then I have to come back to 135 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 2: the table. So we could avoid all that, you know, 136 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: if we just had a fair sit down and talk 137 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 2: and reassess the offer to make sure that people weren't 138 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 2: worth off by living and working here. 139 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: Okay, I know before the last lockdown there had been 140 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: a bit of a rally or a bit of a 141 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: march planned by our public servants to really get the 142 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,239 Speaker 1: message across to our politicians. That obviously couldn't happen because 143 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,119 Speaker 1: of that that lockdown. But is that on the cards again? 144 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: Oh, it certainly is. And we've had some barbecues that planned, 145 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 2: one at the hospital et cetera, and some more planned. 146 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: And the rally will be on on Tuesday, the twenty 147 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 2: first of September again, will be from twelve to six 148 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: near Parliament House, so government are actually sitting that day. 149 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: So if there's no lockdown, which we all hope for kating, 150 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: then we're hoping that public service will be coming and 151 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 2: going all day in their break so if they're off 152 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: work or shift workers, et cetera, or after work and 153 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: come out and show the government exactly what their what 154 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 2: they're feeling about their offer. 155 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: Okay, what is your final message for the Chief Minister 156 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: this morning? 157 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 2: I think Chief Minister that you need to appreciate what 158 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 2: your public service does. So the Chief Minister claims credit for, 159 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: you know, keeping us safe, but it's actually all those 160 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 2: people out there who are keeping us safe, you know, 161 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: every day and twenty four hours, even in the quarantine centers, 162 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: et cetera, and the board. So I think he needs 163 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 2: to come to the table and put a fair offer 164 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 2: on the table so that people's wages don't go backwards. 165 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: Well, CPSU Secretary Kay Densley, I always appreciate your time. 166 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for speaking with us today. 167 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: No worries, Katie, and I'm hoping to see you at 168 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: the rally on the twenty first. 169 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: On the twenty first, we'll remind us when it is 170 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: on and we'll make sure that our listeners know. You know, 171 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: I know that there's very much a bit of division 172 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: in the community on this, some people feeling a little 173 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: bit like it's unfair that public servants, you know, I 174 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 1: still get a wage freeze when they haven't been able 175 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: to get one. But then on the other side, of it. 176 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: You know, we want our public servants to stay here 177 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory, which is obviously a sticking point, yes. 178 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 2: Exactly, and we also want people here to have money 179 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 2: to spend for local businesses and local communities. So you know, 180 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 2: public servants kids go to school and preschool and a 181 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 2: shop in the local shops, et cetera, et cetera. So 182 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 2: you know, we to build the economy back up and 183 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 2: be a part of that, but we can't do that 184 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 2: without fair wages. 185 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: Kate, thank you for your time today. We'll talk to 186 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: you again soon. 187 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: Thank you, thank you.