[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Public Service Pay Deadlock Proposal_NMcKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

PUBLIC SECTOR PAY DEADLOCK CAN BE BROKEN IF PREMIER IS WILLING

Via Use of Tasmanian Industrial Commission's Conciliation Powers
 
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Sunday, 17 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today suggested that Premier David Bartlett consent
to allowing the Tasmanian Industrial Commission to use its conciliation
powers under the Industrial Relations Act 1984 to attempt to resolve the
standoff caused by the government's ongoing refusal to negotiate with
public sector unions over wage claims.

Greens Opposition Leader Nick McKim MP said that Tasmanian Industrial
Commission President Ms Pat Leary would be the perfect person to oversee
such a process, which he described as a potential circuit breaker which
could break the current deadlock caused by the Premier's continued
refusal to negotiate.

"When I became Greens' Leader I said that I would make positive and
proactive suggestions, and this attempt to broker a breakthrough is an
example of that commitment."

"This dispute desperately needs a circuit breaker, and I firmly believe
that the Tasmanian Industrial Commission could be just the vehicle to
get the Premier back to the table with an independent umpire."

"Mr Bartlett's intransigence is costing public servants and the
Tasmanian community dearly, and if he refuses this suggestion he will be
demonstrating that he has no desire to work constructively with the
people who work so hard to keep this state running."

"Rather than stay in the trenches and trying the old 'divide and
conquer' strategy favoured by previous Premier Paul Lennon, Mr Bartlett
should show some good faith and show that he is prepared to at least
talk to Tasmania's public sector employees."

"The Tasmanian Industrial Commission is there to provide exactly this
kind of service, and I have no doubt that a breakthrough could be
achieved if the Premier was prepared to negotiate in good faith within
the Commission's conciliation framework." 

"Unions have always said that they are committed to ongoing negotiations
with the government - it is Premier Bartlett's recalcitrance that is
holding up a resolution to this standoff."

Mr McKim said that the process would not initially result in a legally
binding agreement, but that a legal document could be signed off and
registered by the Commission after a conciliation process. 



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