Core Queensland public sector workers will receive a one-off $1300 bonus soon to compensate them for a 16-month delay in negotiating their annual pay increase.
Public sector workers voted in favour on Friday for a 2.5 per cent annual pay rise over three years in an employee ballot.
Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said 98 per cent of ballot participants had signed off on the deal.
“Queensland’s 50,000 core public sector workers have voted for an enterprise agreement that delivers fair and responsible wage increases,” she said.
“The agreement is consistent with the government’s wages policy and provides annual wage increases of 2.5 per cent a year over three years.
“It also provides for a one-off payment of $1300 to employees, or pro rata for part-time and casuals, in recognition of the 16-month period during which they had no pay increase.”
Ms Grace said the ballot was a pleasing result which put an end to a long period of uncertainty for public sector workers.
The last core agreement expired in July 2012 and was referred to arbitration in January 2013 by the former Newman Government.
“Between August 1, 2012 and November 30, 2013 workers covered by the core agreement were denied any wage increase,” Ms Grace said.
Eligible workers will receive their payment following certification of the agreement, which is expected by June.
