Tasmanian public sector unions are planning staggered stop work actions next week in response to the government's recent pay offer. The government has proposed a 3 percent pay increase for one year, while discussions for future years are ongoing. The proposal also includes modifications to personal leave, parental leave, and pregnancy loss leave entitlements. However, unions have criticized these changes as "long promised" and lacking significance.

The stop work actions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday in the north-west, Wednesday in the north, and Thursday in the south. During these hours, public schools will be closed, and the closures may extend throughout the day if the government cannot ensure safe student arrivals.

Participating unions include the Australian Education Union (AEU), the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), the United Workers Union (UWU), and the United Firefighters Union (UFU). HACSU state secretary Robbie Moore stated that paramedics would maintain safe staffing levels during the stop work period, but there may be "inconvenience and delays" for non-urgent patients in the public health system.

AEU Tasmania president David Genford criticized the government's offer, calling it "cobbled together." He noted, "It's the same 3 percent pay proposal as last time and there's still nothing to address workload, class sizes, deal with school violence, or fix the retention crisis."

The government has indicated that unions are seeking a 21.5 percent pay increase over three years, including an 11 percent increase in one year. Officials argue that their 3 percent offer is above the inflation rate in Tasmania. They attributed the one-year offer to delays caused by the recent snap state election.

CPSU Tasmania secretary Thirza White expressed skepticism about the latest offer gaining support from workers. She remarked, "A lot of what is in this offer is actually things that have been long promised and were commitments made in the last bargaining, things that just need to be modernized."

White added, "The promise of 'we want longer' is actually just a delay tactic, and that's the frustration for our members. We don't need more time; we need people in the room who have the authority to bargain and a government that is committed to listening and working with its workforce."

The Police Association has also voiced concerns, stating that Tasmanian police officers earn, on average, 16.8 percent less than their counterparts in other states.

In response, Premier Rockliff defended the government's offer as "fair and affordable." He stated on social media that the unions' pay requests were unreasonable and that the additional benefits sought by the unions would significantly increase costs. He claimed that the unions' plans for stop work actions had "forced" parents to work from home as a "negotiating tactic."