We moved a resolution at ACT ALP Conference last weekend for all Labor MLAs to commit to boosting the pay of General Service Officers, the ACT Government employees who keep Canberra running through cleaning, trades, and facilities management.
The CFMEU and UWU told the conference about the low wages of GSOs - many of whom take home salaries of just $50,925 - have completely failed to keep pace with the rapidly rising cost of living in Canberra.
We argued a restructure of classifications is needed, so the lowest-paid GSO workers will be paid at least $61,000.
"If these workers stopped doing their jobs Canberra would be a catastrophic mess within weeks," said Zach Smith, CFMEU ACT Branch Secretary.
"You cannot expect people to perform vital work and then ask them to support their families on $50K a year. The median house price in Canberra is approaching $1 million.
“We know of GSOs forced to sleep in their cars and that, frankly, should not be acceptable to any Labor Government. GSOs cleaning public toilets currently receive an ‘insanitary conditions allowance ’of just $2.71 a day. That’s just an insult.
"People who visit Canberra tend to always comment on clean and orderly our city is and that's a credit to these guys, working hard in the background, every single day."
Lyndal Ryan, United Workers Union Director of Property Services, said urgent action was needed.
"During the pandemic these workers went out into a very uncertain world while the rest of Canberra sheltered at home," Ms Ryan said.
"What we're saying to the ACT Government is you cannot take advantage of these people any longer and force them to live in relative poverty.
"Their work is incredibly valuable and they deserve a wage that at least keeps pace with the rapidly rising cost of living.
"If we don't see a very significant shift in tune from the ACT Government about recognising the contribution of these workers I think the situation is going to get very messy very quick."
The unions are also demanding the government moves to stop permanent workers being replaced by contractors with little job security and poorer pay. The ACT Property Group, for example, not long ago had well over 100 trade staff but now boasts less than 30. Canberra Hospital has halved its maintenance staff over the past decade
