AMWU members mount defence of wages

AMWU members in the Department of Defence have forecast further industrial action across the country unless Department heads return to negotiations on a new workplace agreement.

Last week, union members in metropolitan and regional Australia united for a four hour stoppage to protest the federal government’s continuing refusal to consider a wage rise above inflation.

AMWU TSA National Secretary, Mike Nicolaides, predicted industrial action would intensify if government continued to stonewall negotiations.

“Nothing has changed from our position. Our members still see the offer of a real wage cut as unacceptable.

“The Department has not moved from their position of 9% over three years. If anything, they seem determined to continue down that path (offering wages that fail to meet predicted CPI increases). Well…it won’t fly with our members.”

The Department’s offer of a new agreement, to cover 22 000 civilian positions within the Department of Defence, was overwhelmingly rejected in June by 72.5% of those who voted.

Mr Nicolaides said a united campaign between members of the AMWU and other unions( the National Union of Workers, the Community and Public Sector Union and the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia) had the support of the bulk of the engineering and scientific workforce.

“Three years ago during the GFC, workers in Defence were asked to accept an average of 3.1% a year for two years, which they reluctantly agreed to given the economic circumstances. Now the Department has offered even less. Our members wonder where the bottom is.

“We’ve calculated what it would cost the Department to agree to an acceptable wage increase and the difference from their offer is a small percentage of their overall wage budget. The Department probably spends more on biscuits.”

Peter Leggatt, an AMWU delegate and Radiographer based in Port Wakefield, South Australia said members felt insulted by the attitude of the Department going into negotiations.

“Those who were around at the last negotiations will remember that there was a commitment on both sides to take the hurt then, and look after the workforce with a wage increase in the next agreement.

“Defence has reneged on that commitment. They now seem to be holding out for our members to cave in, but we will not. We believe we have grounds to maintain our position. We’re not asking for a huge increase.”