Action by the state’s major Public Sector unions has forced the State Government to introduce a bill returning the Industrial Relations Commission’s (IRC’s) powers.

“A key reason we urged our members to vote for a change of government was the commitment from the Labor Party under Chris Minns to return the IRC to its rightful place determining wages and conditions for members,” said PSA CPSU NSW General Secretary Stewart Little.

The IRC was stripped of many of its powers and responsibilities by the previous Liberal-National Government that was determined to set wages and conditions itself. This gave the O’Farrell-Baird-Berejiklian-Perrottet Governments the power to impose a wage cap, up to 2.5 per cent, on the Public Sector. This saw real wages drop, particularly in recent years as inflation started to run out of control.

“The Minns Government gave us a commitment it would reverse this decision,” said Mr Little. “However, we had signs his cabinet was dragging its feet.

“It took pressure from PSA and unions representing Teachers, Nurses, Police Officers and Firefighters to keep them on track.”