Frontline services will suffer if today's State Budget delivers a cut in take-home pay to the state's 330,000 public sector workers including police, fire-fighters, teachers and nurses, Premier Morris Iemma has been warned.
Unions NSW Secretary John Robertson today said that if the NSW Budget persisted with last year's ceiling of 2.5 per cent wage rises, the government would face a staffing crisis and possible industrial action.
"At a time when inflation is running at nearly four per cent, a 2.5 per cent wage increase represents a cut in take home pay of around $750 per annum for an average public sector worker," said Mr Robertson.
"A budget that is based on a pay cut will be a budget based on shaky foundations.
"Public sector workers like everyone else in NSW are feeling the pinch from rising interests rates, petrol prices and other household costs.
"The 330,000 workers in the public sector cannot afford a cut in take home pay and will fight for a fair wage increase that keeps pace with the cost of the living.
"2.5 per cent is both insulting and unacceptable to the workers on the frontline in our hospitals, schools and communities.
"If the Iemma Government ignores the concerns of nurses, police, teachers and other workers these people will leave the sector.
"Many of these workers are already stretched to breaking point - a budget that cuts their take home pay will push many over the edge."
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