Six short weeks from now, all HSU-covered public health workers’ awards will expire – meaning from 1 July 2023, members will be due a pay rise. In earlier years, NSW public servants were legally forced to accept no more than a 2.5% or (very occasionally) a 3% increase without trading off conditions those who came before us fought hard to achieve.

As the current law stands, this year is no different – NSW public servants can receive up to 3% but will have to make a ‘substantial contribution to productivity-enhancing reforms’ for more. When an employer talks about reforms to productivity they are usually talking about removing penalty rates – or introducing extremely employer-friendly rosters. Note that the Ministry has been going after the compounding nature of Sunday penalty rates in the Paramedic and Control Centre Award for years.

The new government won the election on a promise to scrap the cap but keep saying they want to do it through parliament, rather than by simply rescinding the regulation (which could have happened on 28 March – the day they were sworn in). Nearly two months later, parliament is finally sitting, but instead of scrapping the cap they are legislating to prevent Sydney Water from being privatised. It should be noted that even the previous government eventually ruled out selling off Sydney Water, so there is zero urgency on this issue.

Here we are – 6 weeks out from a pay rise being due – and nothing at all has changed for NSW public servants except sharp rises in interest rates and rent.

ADHSU members’ main claim of paramedic professional pay and salary packaging aside, there needs to be an urgent cost of living increase paid right now, with no negotiation and no trade-offs (ever) – just so members can keep their head above water.

Tomorrow’s stop work is important because members will be briefed on the latest with the government, asked to endorse a side claim for a cost-of-living bump, and consider new industrial action to keep the momentum building.

All ADHSU members should attend via zoom tomorrow morning from 0700-0800. Attend and participate unless you are given a 1A, 1B, 1C, or 2i – all other jobs can wait. If you are a control centre officer, log in and attend unless paramedic or patient safety will be compromised. A link to the zoom will be sent via text this evening.