- Public sector education assistants, cleaners and gardeners have accepted the Cook Government's pay offer
- Workers will receive two wage increases of $65 per week over the next two years, providing a significant pay boost to some of the State's lowest paid workers
- Industrial agreements applying to more than 107,000 public sector workers have now been settled under the State Government's Wages Policy
More than 17,000 education assistants, cleaners and gardeners - covered by the United Workers Union and mostly employed by the Department of Education - have accepted the Cook Government's latest pay offer.
Workers covered by two industrial agreements will receive increases of $65 per week from 1January 2025 and 2026. For education assistants, this represents wage improvements of between 5.09 per cent and 6.5 per cent in the first year, and 4.84 per cent and 6.11 per cent in the second year.
The agreements also provide several new and enhanced conditions - including incentives for employees in the South West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions, and pro rata long service leave after seven years continuous service.
The Cook Labor Government has now settled industrial agreements covering more than 107,000 public sector workers under the Public Sector Wages Policy Statement 2023 - including WA teachers, doctors, TAFE lecturers, transit officers, hospital support workers and public servants.
The State Government continues to engage with unions in good faith to settle negotiations for the remaining public sector occupational groups.
As stated by Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk:
"I commend the United Workers Union and its delegates for their commitment in reaching this positive outcome for over 17,000 education assistants, cleaners and gardeners.
"The Cook Labor Government has now delivered tailored outcomes for over 100,000 public sector workers under our principles-based Wages Policy. This is a significant achievement.
"We look forward to finalising negotiations with the remaining groups as a matter of priority."
