UnionsWA boss Owen Whittle wants reset on public sector wages with Roger Cook’s new Government

UnionsWA boss Owen Whittle believes Roger Cook’s elevation to premier is a chance for a reset on the bitter pay dispute workers have had with Mark McGowan’s Labor government. Mr Cook is expected to be sworn in as WA’s 31st premier next week after a hard-fought factions fight that also involved Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson. “It is a chance for the Government to reset their relationship with unions on public sector wages,” Mr Whittle said. As union frustration boils over into industrial action — particularly with nurses and firefighters — amid stalled negotiations, delegates have expressed hope the new Labor leader will be more open to pay rises. When asked about the wages policy at his first media conference since securing the Labor leadership, Mr Cook had a noticeable pause before saying it was not the time “for detailed policy conversations” but that he would soon have “further comments to make”. Mr Whittle said it was time the State Government reframed their long-term wage suppression in the public sector. While he has not talked directly with Mr Cook in the wake of his leadership success, Mr Whittle said that he looked forward to continuing a good working relationship after connecting on issues through the COVID pandemic. “We’ve always had a very good relationship,” Mr Whittle said. “Through COVID, with Roger as health minister, I found both him and his office to be responsive to issues that we had relating to working people. “In fact, we saw some movement in COVID policies based on our advocacy. “He was very strongly receptive to our calls for COVID payments for workers without leaving entitlements. We’ve had a very productive relationship with him. “That’s not to say that we’re not in for a dispute when public sector wages are reviewed at the end of this year. “The Government is committed to a review process that we think will conclude with the mid-year review in December. “We’re very much hopeful that as they run through that process that we’ll see recognition.” Mr Whittle said UnionsWA had been involved in a “combative campaign” with the Government to achieve a better wages policy, which he believed still “falls short of where we want to see it”. “I would hope, particularly, as our previous health minister that he would recognize that pay is linked to attraction and retention,” Mr Whittle said. “Government can’t deliver services without delivering real pay increases to public sector workers. “If they’re not paying wages competitive with the private sector, they will not attract and retain the talent they need in the public sector.” In contrast to outgoing Premier Mark McGowan, Mr Cook is unlikely to hold the Treasury portfolio as well. UnionsWA’s call for improved negotiations on pay comes as a landmark ruling on Friday from the Fair Work Commission handed Australia’s lowest-paid workers an 8.6 per cent pay rise from July. About 185,000 Australians are on the minimum wage, with a further 2.5 million on modern awards. The Fair Work Commission ruled that both should be increased by 5.75 per cent in the new financial year. “Far more workers will benefit from the 5.75 per cent increase but we’re still very pleased that the union campaign has increased the national minimum wage by a sizeable amount,” Mr Whittle said. “This is the second year in a row we’ve seen a pay increase above 5 per cent, which we think is reflective of a far greater amount of attention that we’ve put to the minimum wage. “We know it’s the single biggest instrument to improve the pain of working people in the country, with about a quarter of a million Western Australians benefiting from the increases.”