Publis Servants planning "Day of Chaos"

They are going on strike because they will only be getting a 2.5% pay rise. Why should they have an automatic pay rise at all? I don't. Any pay rise I get depends on my performance. That's standard in the private sector. I hope Barry uses this as an opportunity to outsource as many public service jobs to the private sector as he can.

Public sector workers protest against Barry O'Farrell's controversial wages bill outside the NSW parliament. Another, much larger action is planned. Picture: Alan Pryke. Source: The Australian

 

NURSES, police, firefighters, teachers, bus drivers and thousands of other public servants are secretly planning a statewide "day of chaos" in protest against Barry O'Farrell.

Outraged at being depicted as "fat-cat bludgers" by the NSW government, state workers are organising the massive revolt for September 8 - two days after the O'Farrell government's first Budget.

Union leaders yesterday admitted they were plotting the strike against the state government after The Sunday Telegraph learnt of a series of secret planning meetings over the past few days among unionists and workers.

"The rally is a direct consequence of the state government's attack on public sector workers' rights, job losses and cuts to services which are all due to a fictional budget black hole which has been shown not to exist," Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon said. He predicted a massive turnout.

So angry are workers that some have told The Sunday Telegraph they would be prepared to defy any court orders against a walkout.

The industrial action against the government comes in response to new laws restricting public sector wage rises to 2.5 per cent - unless productivity savings can be demonstrated.

The laws also strip the Industrial Relations Commission of its powers by forcing it to abide by the policy and employment conditions ordered by the Finance Minister.

Barry welds the axe

Image via WikipediaWell thats the story in today's Telegraph:

THOUSANDS of public servants face the axe in a slash-and-burn state budget made even tighter by the global share meltdown.

Barry O'Farrell's money men Mike Baird and Greg Pearce flagged cuts of up to 25 per cent in the Coalition government's first budget on September 6, as they grapple with drastic revenue reductions since global stocks plummeted.

But an internal war has broken out, with the National Party fighting to stop cuts in Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner's 8000-strong Department of Trade and Investment.

It is understood Primary Industries is facing cuts to its budget of up to 25 per cent, with several grants programs to be axed.

One in three jobs in NSW Health's head office - up to 400 positions - are on the chopping block in a $30 million budget pruning, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Elements of the Department of Community Services budget will be outsourced at a lower cost to the private sector and many other public service jobs are set to be contracted out.The only area to be spared the axe will be transport infrastructure, in a sign the government wants to send a message it is serious on transport.

Mr Baird would not comment on the cuts but has confirmed that property tax revenues, GST receipts and general tax receipts are being drastically revised downwards in the wake of the new global financial troubles.

Despite this, the government still intends to deliver surpluses but is having to slash and burn to do so.....

Hope its true.. I have been saying for years most Public Service administration  jobs should be competitively outsourced. That's what companies do to much of their non core business such as share registry administration. Remember one of the great reforms of the Howard government was the privatisation of the old CES.