Water Corporation workers plan strike over pay offer

• Hundreds of Water Corporation staff voted to walk off the job on Aug. 13 due to an ongoing pay dispute.
• The industrial action follows a government pay offer of 5%, 4%, and 3% salary increases alongside a 2% bonus.
• The union is pushing for the 2% bonus to become permanent and for improved terms for experienced staff.

Hundreds of staff at government-owned Water Corporation have voted to execute a strike on Aug. 13 following a dispute over salary increases.

The planned industrial action follows a Western Australian government offer of 5%, 4%, and 3% pay rises over three years with an additional 2% bonus.

"The state government has found billions for new infrastructure, but many professionals believe they have not shown the same commitment to the people delivering it," said Professionals Australia State Director Tamarah Rowlands.

More than 200 unionised workers voted in favour of the strike, which comes as the business faces scrutiny over maintenance spending and manages a $6 billion four-year infrastructure pipeline led by the Alkimos desalination plant.

Water Corporation stated that it will present a last-ditch enterprise bargaining deal to avoid the walkout, though the union advised its members to reject the proposed package.

The state-owned utility recently faced public scrutiny in March after an Economic Regulation Authority report indicated that the business had allocated insufficient funds towards ongoing network maintenance.

The organisation continues to navigate operational pressures as it seeks to retain specialised engineering staff needed to deliver critical water supply projects across Western Australia.