As the prices of essentials like housing, food and transport continue to rise, the Victorian Labor Government is deliberately keeping wages low - with their public sector wage cap.
This cap places a limit on how much the wages of people who work in the public sector - like teachers, nurses, and essential workers can increase.
Right now the cap is set to just 1.5%. With the cost of food and housing increasing by around 10% this tiny pay increase doesn’t come close to meeting the rising cost-of-living.
We also know that this cap doesn’t just affect people who work in the public sector. It sends a clear message to private companies that they can keep wages low too.
In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis Labor’s wage cap is hurting workers.
The Victorian Greens are calling on the State Government to end its harsh wage cap policy now.
Will you join us by adding your name to the open letter below? Together we can push the government to scrap its wage cap and support Victorian workers to keep up with the rising cost-of-living.
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Open letter to the Treasurer of Victoria
Dear Treasurer,
Victorian workers should be paid a fair wage that can keep up with the rising cost-of-living.
Across our state people are struggling as the cost of housing, food, energy, transport and other essentials continues to go up.
Yet the Victorian State Government is keeping the wages of public sector workers low and signalling to private companies that they can keep wages low too.
At a time when inflation is the highest it’s been in over 30 years - 7.8% - this means that workers’ real wages are being cut.
In the midst of a growing cost-of-living crisis the wage cap is hurting workers.
Treasurer, we urge you to support Victorian workers and enable them to earn a wage that keeps up with the cost-of-living, by abolishing the Victorian State Government’s public sector wage cap now.
Your sincerely,
Samantha Ratnam MP, Leader of the Victorian Greens
Sam Hibbins MP
Gabrielle De Vietri MP
Ellen Sandell MP
Dr Tim Read MP
Aiv Puglielli MP
Katherine Copsey MP
Dr Sarah Mansfield MP
Katherine Copsey MP