VIC: SES workers stop work over pay

Victorian State Emergency Service workers will stop work for 24 hours from 9 o'clock this morning in a bid for pay rates that match their counterparts in the Country Fire Authority and other emergency services.

The employees, most of whom are members of the Community Public Sector Union, have been negotiating with SES management for more than a year, but have recently increased industrial action in a bid to win better pay, superannuation and conditions. In May, SES staff stopped work for a day.

Earlier this month, staff said they would refuse to attend any events with Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan until pay negotiations were settled.

SES workers are paid less than their counterparts in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Country Fire Authority or Victoria Police.