Victoria's zoos are expected to be understaffed until the end of April as workers take industrial action over the state government's wages policy.
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The Andrews government on Tuesday announced an updated policy for the state's public sector workers, bumping annual wage increases from 1.5 per cent to three per cent.
Workers could also obtain a lump sum sign-on bonus equal to up to 0.5 per cent of overall agreement costs under the policy, which the government hailed as fair and responsible in the context of budget challenges.
Zoos Victoria on Wednesday told customers it was running with reduced capacity in some areas because of industrial action over the government wage policy.
The action protesting the policy was initiated by the United Workers Union.
Union members at Melbourne, Werribee and Healesville zoos will be taking various forms of industrial action from Good Friday including banning keeper talks and wearing wearing union shirts instead of their uniform.
"It's really unfair that workers at the zoo and in every workplace in Australia are continuing to bear the brunt of economic decisions made by those who don't need to worry about their next mortgage repayment or rent increase," the union's executive director Godfrey Moase said.
Zoos Victoria respected its employees' right to take action just as it valued all workers, a spokeswoman said.
"We are still in good faith negotiations with unions on this issue, but as these wages are controlled by the Victorian state government wage policy, not Zoos Victoria, we can't comment any further," the spokeswoman said.
"It is expected that this action will continue until the end of April. Some experiences will be impacted but overall, the zoos will open as usual and welcoming visitors."
The Community and Public Sector Union said the wage policy amounted to Labor attacking the public service, and it couldn't understand the assault particularly after workers' tireless efforts through bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We're being so harshly treated with job cuts, real wage cuts (and) cuts to our mental health and wellbeing compensation if we're injured at work," a union spokesman said.
"(We also face) an unwillingness from our employer to even refer the power to allow greater scrutiny on departmental bullying and harassment."
The public sector union pointed to the Victorian government's recent submission to the Annual Wage Review.
In the submission, the government advocated for a "substantial" increase in the national minimum wage and modern award wages to support workers through cost of living pressures.
Despite this, it has effectively imposed a real wage cut on its own workers, a public sector union spokesman said.
The updated Victorian Public Sector Wages Policy sets the framework for future enterprise agreements for the state's public sector workers, and applies to to agreements where bargaining is already underway.
In announcing the policy on Tuesday, Treasurer and Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said it was a fair outcome for employees while being responsible to the state's budget challenges.
Australian Associated Press
