Hundreds of calls by CPSU delegates to Federal ALP Senators and MPs over the past few months have helped ensure the recent MYEFO mini-budget did not contain deep cuts to public sector jobs and services.
Over the past eight weeks members and delegates have been:
making hundreds of phones call to ALP Senators and MPs to talk to them about supporting public services and opposing cuts
organising and attending Cuts Hurt briefings and public events
providing information about cuts and workloads through our survey
Calling politicians was a new experience for many delegates but absolutely crucial to ensuring the Government heard our concerns. We have had great feedback from many delegates after they'd made calls. As one delegate put it "I felt totally outside my comfort zone at first, but once I'd made a few calls, it felt great."
Delegates talk, politicians listen:
Despite a tightening economic environment, the mini-budget brought down by the Government on 22 October - the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) - did not contain any further public sector job cuts or an increase / extension of the efficiency dividend. (The efficiency dividend will remain at 4% until 30 June 2013 then and drop down to 1.5 per cent in the 2013/14 financial year.)
MYEFO also included additional resources for compliance in ATO and Customs, which CPSU had advocated for with Government. Read more about this in Canberra Times here.
CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood said "We have been making our case to the Federal Government that there is no more fat to cut in the public service. It's clear there is growing community concern about public sector cuts at all levels of government.
"The fact MYEFO mini-budget did not contain deep cuts to public sector jobs and services suggests our Cuts Hurt message about public sector jobs and services is getting through," said Ms Flood.
More to do:
While it is good news the APS was not directly targeted for more cuts in MYEFO, it's clear that many APS workplaces are struggling under previously announced savings measures including: the increased efficiency dividend; a $700m capital expenditure reduction and a $550m reduction in consultants, travel, advertising and printing.
More than 500 delegates responded to a survey about workloads and delays and the results are worrying:
80% reported job cuts in their agencies
81% reported there had been no efficiency gains as a result of cuts
72% reported an increase in client/customer waiting times in frontline areas
76% reported increased workloads and targets
64% reported a reduction in quality
What happens next?
Between now and the end of the year CPSU delegates will be working hard to build more workplace and community support for the Cuts Hurt campaign. A CPSU submission for the May 2013 Budget is being finalised and we will be working with you over the next few months to get the key messages on that out in your community and with politicians.
Looking ahead:
We will need to keep the pressure on the Government in early 2013 as they make crucial funding decisions for the May Budget. Increasingly we will be challenging the Coalition about their plans to cut $50-$70 billion from public services and jobs.
What you can do:
1. Print off and hand out the latest Cuts Hurt workplace bulletin 2. Talk to people in your workplace about joining the union and supporting the campaign
3. Share this campaign video link in your workplace
Not yet a member?
We need your support help us protect jobs and services. Join online today. Call 1300 137 636 or talk to your delegate.
Comments(7)
Posted by:Pissed off with freeloading non members - 4 Nov 2012, 4:06pm Ian has summed it up nicely. But rather than joining a union to support yourself, I would say you should join a union to support your colleagues.
Too many of our problems stem from putting number one first ... I'll take that tax cut because I can afford to send my spoiled brats to a private school, and who cares about those who cannot. Why should I join a union ... I'll be stingy and save a few dollars to buy that new iphone/TV/gadget etc ... the union will do the hard work to ensure I get a fair deal, even if I'm not a member. And so on.
If we all look out for others, then guess what ... someone will look out for ourselves when we are in trouble. That is the secret, stop thinking only about oneself and put the community's interests ahead of your own selfish interests.
Posted by:Leanne Mackenzie - 2 Nov 2012, 11:12am I agree that mobilising everyone to make the calls was a great thing but i also can't help thinking we owe some thanks to Campbell Newman - the commonwelath government could not make the policitical mileage they did out of blasting the job cuts in queensland, and then do the same thing themselves! Some great poetic justice has just occurred in NSW with the 'discovery' of a billion dollars 'lost' by the finance areas of the NSW public service. This difference was enough to put the budget into deficit that then required all sorts of (now obviously unnecessary) cuts. This error apparently ocurred because of resourcing issues in the finance department. Love it! I hope the NSW PSA is making a meal of it.
Posted by:Bear - 2 Nov 2012, 10:15am Was watching one of those Discovery channel shows about prisons. A lady prison officer who hurt her knee at work couldn't take the three weeks needed (i doubt it would heal in that time) to get the surgery because if she did she might lose her job, plus of course she would have to pay for it herself. Hello!? Like it's nothing to do with the employer!? What a shitful country. This is what the Liberals would drag us towards. If you work you can't afford to vote Liberal. Ever!
Posted by:Big G - 2 Nov 2012, 9:15am Ian has summed it up perfectly.
Posted by:Ian Lines - 2 Nov 2012, 8:18am Are you a 'bystander'? Many people (the majority that I speak to) are never at a loss to criticise Governments and political parties for their inabilities to make meaningful decisions, or to even demonstrate any vision or aspirations to provide an economically stable and intellectually stimulating and meaningful life for Australians. Our politicians of both sides have clearly given up on anything but a meaningless patching up, time and time again, of a defunct and inoperable political/financial system. Significant change is now an absolute necessity to prevent Australia from plunging into the political/financial quagmire that Europe and the United States are now experiencing. With falling and un-recoupable unemployment these governments are almost totally incapable of any thinking/actions that will prevent the massive povertisation of their populations, which is demonstrably well under way. Australia, so far, through its massive national resources of sought after commodities (coal, land, utilities - available to the largest overseas buyer, no matter the short, medium and long term detrimental effects on the Australian people, and it's tiny population which CAN be more than adequately supported by these resources), has appeared to be less prone that other Western nations to the povertisation of free- market capitalism. This falsehood is now collapsing, as more and more Australians realise that with ever increasing private and public sector job losses, major povertisation of themselves and their families is becoming a reality for many who are taken from a seemingly secure and prosperous lifestyle into the misery and psychologically damaging (suicide is now the biggest killer of under 44's in Australia) dole queues. The ONLY hope for the workers (and if you depend on a pay packet, no matter what your occupational level, you are a worker), is through collective action. 'Bystanding' - that is, sitting back and waiting/hoping for someone else or some body (Union, political party) to fix things up for you is no longer an option. The only way that meaningful progress can now be made in our society, is through COLLECTIVE action. Forget the cries of '..That's communism..' or '...so you want us to all be the same...'- these are childish conditioned responses of those who really need to think about how they became conditioned to internalise such self restricting ideas. The same goes for those who '...don't believe in Unions...'. DON'T JOIN A UNION TO SUPPORT THE UNION - JOIN A UNION TO SUPPORT YOURSELF'. A Union is merely a collective of individuals working for a common goal. Likewise if you join a union, there is little use in sitting back and waiting for the Union to fix your ills. ENGAGE with the union. If you think that the Union executive is not carrying out the wishes of its members MAKE THIS CLEAR. Corruption and incompetence of Union Executives can only happen when its members allow it. So, have a re-think. Collectivism is the only way to address the job futures of ALL Australians. Unions present a forum with which to mobilise this collectivity of thought and purpose. DON'T join a Union to be told how to fix your future. DO JOIN A UNION TO TELL THE UNION HOW TO FIX YOUR FUTURE.
Like it ,or not, Union action has provided Australian workers, unionists and non-unionists alike, with the major achievements of all workers ie. higher wages, shorter hours and safer working conditions. DON'T BE A BYSTANDER - join your union, engage in presenting your needs, and help to build a financially secure, intellectually satisfying and worthwhile future for yourself, your children and grandchildren. IN-ACTION ON YOUR PART WILL GUARANTEE THE POVERTISATION OF THE MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIAN WORKERS. DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF!! JOIN YOUR UNION!!!
Ian has summed it up nicely. But rather than joining a union to support yourself, I would say you should join a union to support your colleagues. Too many of our problems stem from putting number one first ... I'll take that tax cut because I can afford to send my spoiled brats to a private school, and who cares about those who cannot. Why should I join a union ... I'll be stingy and save a few dollars to buy that new iphone/TV/gadget etc ... the union will do the hard work to ensure I get a fair deal, even if I'm not a member. And so on. If we all look out for others, then guess what ... someone will look out for ourselves when we are in trouble. That is the secret, stop thinking only about oneself and put the community's interests ahead of your own selfish interests.
I agree that mobilising everyone to make the calls was a great thing but i also can't help thinking we owe some thanks to Campbell Newman - the commonwelath government could not make the policitical mileage they did out of blasting the job cuts in queensland, and then do the same thing themselves! Some great poetic justice has just occurred in NSW with the 'discovery' of a billion dollars 'lost' by the finance areas of the NSW public service. This difference was enough to put the budget into deficit that then required all sorts of (now obviously unnecessary) cuts. This error apparently ocurred because of resourcing issues in the finance department. Love it! I hope the NSW PSA is making a meal of it.
Was watching one of those Discovery channel shows about prisons. A lady prison officer who hurt her knee at work couldn't take the three weeks needed (i doubt it would heal in that time) to get the surgery because if she did she might lose her job, plus of course she would have to pay for it herself. Hello!? Like it's nothing to do with the employer!? What a shitful country. This is what the Liberals would drag us towards. If you work you can't afford to vote Liberal. Ever!
Ian has summed it up perfectly.
Are you a 'bystander'? Many people (the majority that I speak to) are never at a loss to criticise Governments and political parties for their inabilities to make meaningful decisions, or to even demonstrate any vision or aspirations to provide an economically stable and intellectually stimulating and meaningful life for Australians. Our politicians of both sides have clearly given up on anything but a meaningless patching up, time and time again, of a defunct and inoperable political/financial system. Significant change is now an absolute necessity to prevent Australia from plunging into the political/financial quagmire that Europe and the United States are now experiencing. With falling and un-recoupable unemployment these governments are almost totally incapable of any thinking/actions that will prevent the massive povertisation of their populations, which is demonstrably well under way. Australia, so far, through its massive national resources of sought after commodities (coal, land, utilities - available to the largest overseas buyer, no matter the short, medium and long term detrimental effects on the Australian people, and it's tiny population which CAN be more than adequately supported by these resources), has appeared to be less prone that other Western nations to the povertisation of free- market capitalism. This falsehood is now collapsing, as more and more Australians realise that with ever increasing private and public sector job losses, major povertisation of themselves and their families is becoming a reality for many who are taken from a seemingly secure and prosperous lifestyle into the misery and psychologically damaging (suicide is now the biggest killer of under 44's in Australia) dole queues. The ONLY hope for the workers (and if you depend on a pay packet, no matter what your occupational level, you are a worker), is through collective action. 'Bystanding' - that is, sitting back and waiting/hoping for someone else or some body (Union, political party) to fix things up for you is no longer an option. The only way that meaningful progress can now be made in our society, is through COLLECTIVE action. Forget the cries of '..That's communism..' or '...so you want us to all be the same...'- these are childish conditioned responses of those who really need to think about how they became conditioned to internalise such self restricting ideas. The same goes for those who '...don't believe in Unions...'. DON'T JOIN A UNION TO SUPPORT THE UNION - JOIN A UNION TO SUPPORT YOURSELF'. A Union is merely a collective of individuals working for a common goal. Likewise if you join a union, there is little use in sitting back and waiting for the Union to fix your ills. ENGAGE with the union. If you think that the Union executive is not carrying out the wishes of its members MAKE THIS CLEAR. Corruption and incompetence of Union Executives can only happen when its members allow it. So, have a re-think. Collectivism is the only way to address the job futures of ALL Australians. Unions present a forum with which to mobilise this collectivity of thought and purpose. DON'T join a Union to be told how to fix your future. DO JOIN A UNION TO TELL THE UNION HOW TO FIX YOUR FUTURE. Like it ,or not, Union action has provided Australian workers, unionists and non-unionists alike, with the major achievements of all workers ie. higher wages, shorter hours and safer working conditions. DON'T BE A BYSTANDER - join your union, engage in presenting your needs, and help to build a financially secure, intellectually satisfying and worthwhile future for yourself, your children and grandchildren. IN-ACTION ON YOUR PART WILL GUARANTEE THE POVERTISATION OF THE MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIAN WORKERS. DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF!! JOIN YOUR UNION!!!