TRANSFER FROM HEALTH UNITS TO SHARED SERVICES

Since the announcement by Government of the plan to unite initially all Payroll, Accounts Payable/Receivable employees within the one government agency, PSA has been involved in negotiations to protect the pay and conditions of members. Within Health, the proposed change has more impact, because employees in Health Units, due to the Benevolent Funds (PBI) tax status of health unit employees, able to salary sacrifice up to $9,095 per annum free of Fringe Benefit Tax, to gain a cash advantage of between $2,440 and $3,744.

The PSA was instrumental, through Enterprise Bargaining in gaining in 1999 Salary Packaging for our members (clause 7, current Enterprise Agreement) and believes that PSA members, compulsorily transferred to Shared Services, should be compensated by the State Government for any financial loss incurred.

In response to PSA demands, the State Government negotiated with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) that employees transferred from Health Units would retain their Tax Benefits, for 12 months, if they were working on health related business.

THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!

PSA has called on the State Government to offer a better compensation package.

PSA pointed out the family disruptions and other financial losses that would occur to the many affected employees working in outer metropolitan and country areas .

The Government accepted PSA's arguments for country employees and is now not going to require them to relocate to the city. Though the positions that they occupy will.

The State Government acknowledges that many employees transferred from Health Units to Shared Services will incur financial loss as a result of changes to Salary Sacrifice arrangements and personal circumstances (eg increased child care, travel and parking costs) but has not agreed to any compensation what so ever.

IF NO OFFER IS RECEIVED FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT PSA MEMBERS HAVE STATED THAT THEY WILL TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION. The government needs to either offer adequate compensation to health employees or retain all employees within the health portfolio, so that they do not incur financial losses.

Current cash benefits available for employees in health units taking advantage of salary sacrifice arrangements are ASO1 $2,440, ASO2 $3,068, ASO3 $3,016, ASO4 $3,068, ASO5 $2,860, ASO6 $2,886, ASO7 $3,380, ASO8 $3,744.

For further information and enquiries contact Senior Industrial Officer Ian D Peak on 8205 3294 or email: ian@cpsu.asn.au