Tax Office industrial action likely

Date: 01 May 2000

Tax pay talks fail -
Industrial dispute now likely

Last minute talks today have failed to head off the prospect of industrial action in the Tax Office over stalled pay negotiations.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has expressed disappointment that Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody did not directly involve himself in today's negotiations.

Shane O'Connell, Secretary of the CPSU Tax Section, said, "The outstanding issue remains the size of the pay rise. The ATO have again refused to acknowledge the extra effort that tax officers have put in with the introduction of the GST. The amount of money staff are asking for is not unreasonable. Unless Mr Carmody acts urgently he will continue to lose his skilled staff to the private sector where they are being offered much more than he is currently offering."

CPSU members will hold stop work meetings around the country on Thursday 4th May to plan industrial action. It is expected that this action will include stoppages and work bans which will effect most parts of the ATO, including the highly sensitive GST and Australian Business Number (ABN) areas.

"The reality is that the Tax Office is so stretched at the moment because of the introduction of the GST, that even minor industrial action will have a profound impact," said Mr O'Connell.

Tax Section Secretary
Shane O'Connell 0418 304 953
pager 016 372 348
Tax Section Assistant Secretary
Michael Tull 0418 557 380
pager 016 372 348

For further information

Contact:	Michael Tull
Union:	CPSU - National Office
Phone:	0418 557 380

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]