MPs pay rise hard to swallow

The Public Service Association says Parliamentary Services staff will find a pay rise for MPs particularly hard to swallow.

The Remuneration Authority has confirmed MPs are likely to receive a pay rise of 1.5% which will be backdated to July 1st, meaning they will end up with a lump sum payment worth thousands of dollars.

PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott says a thought needs to be spared for Parliamentary Services staff, many of whom work directly for MPs. They haven’t had a pay rise for three years and are currently battling to get an increase.

“They are consistently being told by Parliamentary Services that there is no money in the pot for pay increases yet MPs get a pay rise and a backdated lump sum without even trying. It’s an injustice which MPs should seek to remedy.”

The backdating of the increase also exposes a clear double standard.

“The days of backdated pay in the public sector are long gone with government departments being given a clear message not to backdate any pay increases agreed to in collective agreements. For that reason it is galling to see the Prime Minister and other MPs set to have their pockets lined with thousands of dollars in backpay.”

“While everyone deserves a pay rise, it doesn’t sit well to see MPs getting an increase while public sector workers have faced thousands of job cuts in the name of austerity, are constantly being told to tighten their belts and have to fight tooth and nail to achieve any wage movement at all.”

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