News Flash

The current South Australian Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2010 expires on 30 June 2012. Clause 29 states “Negotiations for a new Enterprise Agreement may commence not earlier than 1 January 2012.” The PSA expects formal negotiations to commence early in the new year.

PSA has been successful in campaigning to achieve the restoration of Recreation Leave Loading and also Job Security for the term of the current Government, conditions which were removed by the 2010 Foley Budget.

The PSA will consult with members with a view to developing a new claim. A short survey for members to complete is here. This is an opportunity to provide direct feedback into this process.

Enterprise Bargaining is about negotiating wage increases, and protecting and improving conditions. PSA members have campaigned to defend conditions of employment, jobs and good faith bargaining, and the PSA will be seeking to ensure these negotiations are transparent and open. The enforceability of any Agreement is an issue that needs to be resolved. This is an opportunity for the new Government leadership to restore good faith bargaining.

It is also vital that a single Parity Agreement continues. In the past when individual Agency Agreements existed there was a significant disparity in wages and conditions. (eg: Health workers received approximately 9% less than some other Agencies and it was only through the campaigning by PSA that all workers were given parity and all public sector workers returned to a single Parity Agreement).

The PSA will be looking at a claim which provides for:
A fair and reasonable wage increase.
Protection of existing conditions.
Job security.
Improvements to conditions.
Agency/classification specific schedules to deal with particular requirements.
Compensation for lost Long Service Leave.

If you have any comments or suggestions, or to return the survey, please email enquiries@cpsu.asn.au or contact your PSA Industrial Officer, as members' ongoing feedback is important to this process.

15 November 2011