Olympics Pay Fight Hots Up

Date: 05 May 2000

Public sector workers have given the State Government 14 days to come good on a $3 per hour Olympics allowance while rail workers have moved to withdraw from extensive Games preparations as their claim comes to a head.

The public sector unions gave the government the two week ultimatum on Thursday, but the Rail Tram and Bus Union upped the ante late today imposing bans on all Games preparation immediately.

RTBU state secretary Nick Lewocki says the government it's been more than 12 months since his members made their claim

Transport workers will bear the brunt of Sydney 2000 mayhem, with trains running to a 23-per hour day peak.

"To suggest this is business as usual is just a joke," Lewocki says. "But if that's the government's position, we'll stop participating in the planning until they change their tune."

Representatives of other public sector workers including police, fire brigade, ambulance and general public servants on altered duties will meet in a fortnight to consider industrial action if there's no movement

Gibberish from Gallagher

Meanwhile, NSW Opposition industrial relations spokesman, Michael Gallagher has burst onto the public stage after more than a year of silence.

The man they call 'The Shadow' this morning attacked a claim by his former colleagues in the police force, ambulance, fire brigade officers, transport workers and public servants to be compensated for increased duties during the games period.

The basis of Gallagher's attack - that the unions have breached an undertaking to not seek any wage rises - wrong.

"It is clear that the Opposition spokesman on industrial relations does not know the difference between a wage claim and an allowance," Costa says.

"As this is a fundamental principle of industrial relations one can only question his capacity for understanding his portfolio.

"The facts are that the union movement has been responsible during the Games preparation. Construction came in on time and under budget. Workers at Olympic venues have settled on an award to avoid Atlanta-style wage blowouts.

"But public sector workers who will be denied leave and face massive increases in work intensity have a legitimate claim to an allowance for the period of the event. (Michael Gallagher please note: allowances are linked to an event, wage claims are for ever).

"Rail timetables, for example will run to a 23 hour peak, that means a lot more stress and hard work for those in the industry.

"To deny workers in emergency services a modest pay bonus for the massive dislocation to their working lives is not only mean-spirited, but will undermine the goodwill of workers required to make this event run smoothly."

For further information

Contact:	Peter Lewis
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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