A whopping 99 per cent of PSA members who are working as Special Constables voted to accept the union-won pay rise and grading uplift.

“This raise and upgrade were a long-time-coming,” said PSA General Secretary Stewart Little. “Our members in this area perform an important, high-profile and at times risky job.”

Special Constables are a part of the NSW Police and, like Police Officers, perform many law-enforcement duties. They provide armed security for NSW Police and NSW government buildings and officials. They are uniformed, carry a sidearm, and have powers of arrest. Despite this, Special Constables’ grading and pay has not kept up with the growing demands of the job, or with their comrades’ salaries in the NSW Police.

For years, the PSA has been campaigning to get members a fair grading and pay deal. In October this year, the State Government finally made an offer the PSA could take to members. The offer followed a decision on the Award handed down in June by the Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission. Following the decision, the PSA lodged a Judicial Review in the NSW Supreme Court, which prompted the government to ultimately make the offer in October.
Once members voted on the offer, the PSA withdrew its Supreme Court judicial review.

“Special Constables, on top of the public service pay rise won by the PSA for all public servants, will have their salaries brought up to a much more acceptable and appropriate level,” said Mr Little.

The offer included an 11 per cent (3 per cent for wages and 8 per cent for work value) 2024-2025 increase in salaries plus 0.5 per cent superannuation. This will be backdated to the first pay run of 2024-2025.

“This was one of the many successful campaigns the PSA ran in 2024,” said Mr Little. “The NSW Public Sector is a giant employer, with responsibilities across the state that are so varied it’s difficult to comprehend. From protecting the environment and conserving priceless art, to providing security for government buildings and officials. Our members do it all, and the PSA supports them all. And with such a varied workforce, salaries and awards are just as varied, yet the PSA ensures that every award and salary grade is appropriate for the work that our members do.”