Unions threaten to silence public sector workers

More than a thousand health workers, police, teachers and other public sector workers are shouting down the doors of Parliament, arguing that they aren't being respected or paid enough.

Six weeks of escalating industrial action culminated at the doorsteps of Parliament House in Perth, as public sector workers denounced the state government's wages policy.

Many of WA's biggest unions joined together last year to form the Public Sector Alliance in a bid to strengthen their bargaining power against WA's wages policy.

The unions cover dozens of industries, including health care, prisons, manufacturing, and tourism.

5 per cent of the population is affected by this.

WA's public sector wages policy was initially 2.5 per cent pay rise per year, with the choice of a $1,000 sign on bonus or an extra 0.25 per cent annually for two years.

The state government budged on its policy despite escalating industrial action over the past month.

Premier Mark McGowan said that we're providing a very generous offer to the public sector workforce.

The public sector wage offer we are offering is in excess of what is being offered in other states New South Wales and Victoria and in excess of what many people in the private sector workforce are receiving. The revised offer has a 3 per cent annual increase for two years, plus a $2,500 one-off payment.

The unions said we listened intently to what the unions had to say, and we're trying to provide a major pay increase to everyone in the public sector," McGowan said.

Members of the union gathered outside Parliament today to say it's not enough, and chanted for a 5 per cent pay rise.