The Victorian branch of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) held its first mass members meeting December 9, drawing more than 1500 public service workers to discuss the recommendations proposed by the long-awaited Silver Review and the recently tabled Victorian government’s response.
The review, prepared by former Head of the Victorian Public Service and current Managing Director of Allianz Australia Helen Silver, originally proposed cutting up to 6000 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles in the Victorian Public Service (VPS) and to abolish or consolidate of several government entities.
CPSU Victoria said the revised cuts of ~2000 FTE workers was a major victory, attributing it to the work of A Voice for Members volunteers and other union activists.
Jiselle Hanna, CPSU Secretary and part of the Voice for Members ticket, said: “Strong action and campaigning by our members have seen the government abandon more than two thirds of their initially forecast job cuts. This is an incredible result, but there is still more work to be done.
“We’re supporting members in agencies and teams proposed to be abolished or merged. We’ll be fighting to make the case for more sensible reform that doesn’t compromise jobs or the independence and effectiveness of these agencies.”
Labor’s response to the Silver Review said it aimed to “create more than $4 billion in savings” and would remove 332 executives, expected to save $359 million. It said it wind up entities it deems are “no longer needed”, such as Sustainability Victoria, and reduce the proportion of VPS5 and VPS6 positions, many of which require high technical expertise, which is estimated to save another $125 million.
Labor claims its restructuring of the public service is being pursued to “remove duplication and boost productivity” and has said it wants to bring employment levels closer to pre COVID-19 levels.
In response to on-going cuts and restructures across the VPS, that predate the final version of the Silver Review, CPSU Victoria launched the Victoria Works Because We Do campaign in a bid to dial up public pressure on government to reverse these cuts in the lead up to the state election in 2026.
“Part of our campaign next year will be to raise the profile of the public service, so Victorians know who we are, what we do, and the real value of our work,” Hanna said
The mass meeting overwhelmingly endorsed the campaign, showing the newly invigorated union is ready to fight for its membership and the community it serves.
[If you work in the public service join the union to get involved. Sign the Hands Off Our State Library petition.]