- Public servants vote overwhelmingly to accept Cook Government's pay offer
- Employees will receive a 13 per cent pay rise over three years, plus new and enhanced employment conditions
- Agreements applying to more than 85,000 WA public sector employees have now been settled under the State Government's Wages Policy
The Cook Government has welcomed the decision of public servants to accept terms for a replacement industrial agreement.
Eight-five per cent of balloted Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association (CSA) members voted in support of the three-year deal, which will benefit over 33,000 Western Australian public service employees across diverse range of occupations, including child protection workers and drivers' licence assessors.
The offer includes salary increases of 5 per cent in the first year, followed by 4 per cent in 2025 and 3.5 per cent in 2026. It also provides several new and improved conditions of employment - including an increase to paid parental leave available to both parents, the introduction of reproductive health leave and disability leave, as well as a range of provisions supporting regional workers.
The Cook Labor Government has now secured negotiated outcomes for more than 85,000 public sector workers under the Public Sector Wages Policy Statement 2023 - including WA teachers, TAFE lecturers, VenuesWest employees, transit officers and hospital support workers.
Government continues to engage with unions in good faith to settle negotiations for other groups.
The agreement was reached under the State Government's principles-based Wages Policy, which came into effect in December 2023.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk:
"I'm pleased to announce settlement of these negotiations and thank the CSA for working with the Government to negotiate an excellent outcome for its members and over 33,000 public servants.
"This agreement also delivers progressive conditions focused on supporting parents, those with reproductive health issues or a disability, and regional workers - issues raised by the CSA as important to its members.
"We are especially pleased to see an increase in paid parental leave entitlements. It is our goal to make the WA public sector an employer of choice, and improved paid parental leave for both partners sends the right message in a competitive labour market.
"These negotiations highlight the effectiveness of this Government's principles-based Wages Policy, ensuring we can tailor outcomes that meet the needs of each public sector occupational group."
