LHMU News
Industrial action possible at national parks after government ignores ranger pleas
National park rangers in Western Australia may take industrial action bringing potentially huge disruption to national parks over the holiday period after the government refused to agree to arbitration and their pay being back dated.
The LHMU has tried to include the rangers in their government education bargaining agreement which is due to go into arbitration in the new year. The state government has agreed to back date the wages of school support staff to 1 January 2010 when the Industrial Relations Commission decide what pay increase they should get. However they have refused to do the same for the park rangers.
Carolyn Smith, assistant branch secretary of the LHMU said the union was only told of the government’s decision in writing on 23 December.
“The government has had our claim since October and hasn’t responded to it. For them to turn around and say no to the rangers just before Christmas on this very important issue is absolutely appalling,” she said.
“We will be discussing the government’s decision with our national park ranger members and they will decide what action they may take.
'Highly-skilled'
“These are the highly-skilled experts who preserve, manage and protect Australia’s natural beauty and wildlife. They are essential for our tourist industry which is coming into its peak over the Christmas holiday season.
“There is no reason for the government not to back date the new pay rise for these essential workers, especially because they are only offering them a stingey 8% over three years, which is the same pay deal as school support workers.
“Our members, many of whom are on a below average wage for the state, feel very strongly about this issue and so there is a potential for industrial action in the parks and historic sites that they look after.
“Like school support staff, these workers are affected by Troy Buswell’s Industrial Wages Policy which has been rendered Scrooge-like in the extreme after he revealed a $51m surplus in his Mid Year Review last week.
“Western Australia has the resources to at least back pay these workers to the beginning of January once their pay increase is settled. With household bills going up by $1,000 a year, it’s the least we can do for the people who keep Western Australia looking beautiful and staying safe.”
