Healthcare workers have been left angry and disillusioned by wage negotiations, saying the government "reneged" on an in-writing wage offer.
Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) state secretary Robbie Moore said, in his almost two decades dealing with negotiations, he'd never seen a government backtrack on an offer, in writing, that they'd put forward.
The letter sent to HACSU on February 16 by Head of State Service Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said a new intensive negotiation approach would start over the following six weeks, and she wanted to see all state service employees receive a pay rise as soon as possible.
"I confirm that the Government is willing to explore a similar 'packaged approach' as the three year agreement that Government recently achieved with the Police Association of Tasmania, including proposed offsets, but would need to work together to develop these elements for final costing and approval," the letter stated.
Further commitments included:
These commitments were given on the suspension of industrial action, including any commenced on February 16.
Mr Moore said he wasn't sure if the Premier had been involved in the decision to walk back from what was put in writing, or if he'd been "steam-rolled" by his colleagues.
But he believed the Premier was the one who needed to be accountable for the decision.
However acting Head of State Service Shane Gregory denied they had reneged on any commitments.
"Any proposal is, and always has been, conditional on efficiencies and offsets being negotiated, depending on the final package," he said.
He said the proposal provided on February 24 was for three per cent, in year one and two, plus structural reform, and a 2.75 per cent increase in year three, in line with what the Police Association of Tasmania accepted.
"Claims that the government and the HoSS have reneged on commitments are incorrect, and it is disappointing that unions have portrayed yesterday's discussions in this way," Mr Gregory said.
"We continue to approach these negotiations seriously, in good faith, and with a genuine commitment to examining all issues to reach agreement.
"The Lead Negotiator has another meeting scheduled for this Thursday, 26 February, and both he and the bargaining team will attend.
"We will continue to make every effort to reach agreement by 31 March."
Mr Moore said they clearly reneged and had no justification for it.
"We expect an apology from the government, and from the premier directly," he said.
In a letter back to the head of state service he said he was extremely disappointed and it was a "hostile attack on a workforce".
"To now be advised that you are not only reneging on this but also now proposing to attack long standing conditions, matters that have not been raised at all in over 12 months of negotiations is beyond belief and unprecedented in public sector bargaining," Mr Moore wrote.
Separately, he said union workers had no confidence in the Premier.
"He was involved in these discussions through bureaucrats.
"Stop hiding behind bureaucrats and come and meet health workers directly, you're so out of touch."
Stopping industrial action was one such condition, which the union restarted on Wednesday at the Royal Hobart Hospital with a two hour stop-work meeting.
Two more stop-work meetings are planned at the North West Hospital on Monday March 2, and Tuesday March 3 at the Launceston General Hospital.
The 127 bans workers were undertaking have been resumed, with 20 more added, and more being developed.
Mr Moore said workers and union members' trust in the Premier and government to negotiate in good faith had been destroyed.
And people were already leaving Tasmania to work for better pay and conditions on the mainland.
Member for Lyons Jane Howlett said HACSU had walked out of negotiations on February 24, and it was a political stunt.
"Labor and HACSU are politicising this, and it's just hurting Tasmania," she said.
Opposition Leader Josh Willie said hard working educators and health staff deserved better.
"They're working in a system that is stretched beyond its limits," he said.
"They are asking for things to support their work, delivering good services to Tasmanians.
"We need to make sure that they're being listened to."
He said the backflip looked like a power struggle between Premier Rockliff and Treasurer Eric Abetz.
"It now looks like the premier has been rolled by his own cabinet and Eric Abetz, and now the negotiations are in disarray," Mr Willie said.