On Wednesday 14 November 2007, Public Service Association (PSA) Industrial Officers Simon Johnson and Josie Barbaro attended a meeting of the Shared Services Reform Office (SSRO) Workforce Consultative Group (WCG), the peak body to discuss employee related issues.

These meetings are in addition to weekly meetings scheduled with SSRO and the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) which provide a regular forum to raise PSA issues in detail on behalf of members. The WCG will continue to meet monthly. The latest PSA brief (dated 7 Nov 2007) has a summary of the last meeting.

SSRO representatives provided the WCG with the following update;

• Shared Services Status Report: A discovery process has commenced with Agencies to update information. The weekly meetings with PSA representatives and the upcoming review of the redeployment policy which will be the subject of consultation with the PSA were noted.

• Agency Briefings: These are continuing and feedback is many employees are concerned, particularly those working in regional and outer metro areas. The PSA reported members were frustrated at the lack of detail and information being provided at the briefings.

• Transition: A report was provided on the general approach to transition. Workgroups have been divided into 4 groups of roughly equal size, with those in or close to the CBD, or already providing a shared service, moving first. The discovery process will provide information to ensure appropriate mechanisms will be put in place in readiness for the transition. There will be consultation with the PSA on communication protocols once transitioning positions are confirmed and people identified.

• Draft Human Resource Principles/Consultation Strategy: Further discussions will occur with the PSA. An additional document dealing with regional employees and employees working part FTE in “in scope” positions is expected to be provided to the PSA soon for consultation.

• Organisational Climate: Work is proceeding on workplace culture and induction processes.

PSA concerns about the implementation of Shared Services remain. The PSA will continue to demand all outstanding issues are resolved satisfactorily. 

15 November 2007