Premier must restore job security for public sector workers

http://www.hacsutas.asn.au/

In February 2011 the Premier said she could not rule out forced redundancies as part of her plan to cut government spending.

HACSU and other unions representing public sector workers said the Premier’s February 2011 threat of potential forced redundancies was unnecessary, and that savings could be achieved via attrition and voluntary redundancies.

“The public sector workforce has now shrunk by up to 1500 people without one forced redundancy,” HACSU Assistant Secretary Tim Jacobson said.

“The Premier must finally acknowledge the forced redundancy threat was a mistake and it is long past time she gave public sector workers the job security they need to open their wallets. We can’t think of a better Christmas present for Tasmania’s economy than to get 28,000 wage-earners back in the shops.”

HACSU has called on premier Lara Giddings to remove the threat of forced redundancies that has been hanging over the heads of public sector workers for nearly two years. The threat had caused 28,000 workers to worry about their jobs, which had stopped discretionary spending.

“When you’re worried about your job you don’t renovate your house, you don’t buy a new car, you don’t plan a holiday to the east coast,” said Tim Jacobson.

“There has not been one forced redundancy in nearly two years but every day that the threat remains, worried public sector workers will not be kick-starting Tasmania’s stalled economy. Tasmania’s economy cannot afford to have 28,000 wage-earners sitting on the sidelines.”

In the 12 months to September 2012 retail trade plummeted 3.2% while the rest of Australia grew 3.7%. Tasmania’s unemployment is also higher, with private sector workers laid off because public sector workers weren’t spending.

HACSU has recently raised our concerns about the effect of our members’ job security on the economy with the Premier and has urged her to reconsider her position on forced redundancies.

Public Sector workers have done their bit the get the Governments budget position into better shape through agreeing to reasonable wages outcomes and downsizing, now it is only fair that workers are rewarded through reinstatement of job security.