WHAT: 200 locals to protest
WHEN: Today, Thursday 9 October 2025, 12:00 NOON
WHERE: East Foreshore, Young Street & Tassie Street, Port Augusta
MORE INFO:
Essential workers on ‘poverty wages’ call on Premier to step in
Desperate child protection caseworkers, State Emergency Service crews and other essential workers are calling on Premier Peter Malinauskas to step in and lift them out of poverty after wage negotiations with the government broke down.
The workers have seen a 20% reduction in real wages over the last decade and many have slipped below the award safety net by almost $4,000.
Over the last six years the workers have received annual pay rises equivalent to 1% a year, while inflation has been running as high as 7.2% in that same period pushing up the price of food, rent and utilities.
It estimated these workers are earning $15,000 a year less than 6 years ago in real terms.
The 40,000 workers are amongst the lowest paid in the state.
Some are on as little as $55,000 a year.
The minimum wage is $49,000.
Union members are kicking off their statewide campaign in Port Augusta today.
A recent survey by the union which represents the workers, The Public Service Association (PSA), found many were at breaking point:
“This offer is disgusting and doesn't even begin to cover inflation since our last EB. My rent alone has gone up 65% since then, and groceries are costing an extra $200 a fortnight. This is robbery. I’m ready to pack my family up and move interstate to work,” said one respondent.
“It’s a massive slap in the face. I have two small kids and one on the way, and the government thinks this is sustainable. Absolute joke of an offer,” said another.
“If anyone wonders why people are leaving the SA public service in droves, this is the answer: we are unappreciated, unvalued, and treated like second-class citizens,” said yet another.
This crisis has its roots in previous sub par wage deals, when the former PSA leadership advised members to accept low pay rises while other emergency service unions fought for - and won - far better outcomes.
Newly elected PSA General Secretary Charlotte Watson says public sector workers across the state are having trouble buying groceries, paying rent and keeping up with bills.
“Despite their vital roles in keeping this state running, many of our members are struggling to survive, forced to choose between paying rent or buying groceries or medication,” she said.
“Our members have seen a 20% reduction in real wages in the last decade, that’s like losing 20 cents on every dollar you were earning in 2015.
“We are calling on Premier Peter Malinauskas to step in and lift our members out of poverty.
“Across the public service we are haemorrhaging staff, we can’t attract people and we can’t retain people, there’s hundreds of jobs unfilled, people have voted with their feet and just left. ”
Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547