DFWA MEDIA STATEMENT – 14 OCTOBER 2014
DEFENCE SERVICE PERSONNEL OVERWHELMINGLY REJECT GOVERNMENT PAY OFFER
Last Friday 10 October 2014 all members of the ADF finally received advice via a message from the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) that a pay Offer of 1.5% per year increase would be taken to the Defence Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) for endorsement as early as Wednesday 15 October 2014.
That Offer was to be offset and funded by a range of what CDF termed as ‘productivity initiatives’ which included removing some previously approved leave provisions and downgrading of several other conditions of service.
Despite the very short notice, the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA) conducted a survey to gauge ADF member views about the Offer. The reaction of members was immediate. Almost universally they expressed outrage and severe disappointment that yet again the purchasing power of their pay was being eroded.
The Association’s National President, Colonel David Jamison, said that, given the overwhelmingly negative response by service personnel to the proposed Offer, it left the DFWA with no choice but to firmly oppose it in its submission to the DFRT.
Colonel Jamison said “over 11,000 ADF members had voiced their opposition and it would be incredulous if the powers within the ADF and the Government didn’t take time to listen to their concerns”. He said that the WRA should at least match the movement of the ‘Employee Living Cost Index’ not just inflation to maintain real purchasing power of ADF wages. Anything less represented a pay cut which ADF members should not be expected to accept. And costs imposed on ADF members, Defence Housing being an example, should not exceed any salary increase over the next three years.
Contacts
Executive Director:
Alf Jaugietis (0438) 282 284
www.dfwa.org.au
National President:
David Jamison (0416) 107 557
ADSO Alliance of Defence Service Organisations
DFWA IS A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE OF DEFENCE SERVICE ORGANISATIONS