PSA General Secretary Jan McMahon, President Lindsay Oxlad, Chief Industrial Officer Peter Christopher and Industrial Officer Josie Barbaro met with the Deputy Under Treasurer and officers of the Shared Services SA (SSSA), on Monday 26th November 2007.

The PSA remains concerned that critical issues it has been raising on behalf of members are yet to be resolved. PSA members cannot be expected to make decisions about their future employment without having definitive answers to these questions. A 'wait and see when we get there' approach by SSSA is simply not good enough.

The following is a summary of the key issues which are unresolved:

• Regional Jobs - PSA position is that functions should remain in regional locations.

• Salary Sacrifice – Impact on members in health. Cabinet decision not expected until next year.

• Country Health – discussions regarding regional health units who deal with Commonwealth funded aged health care.

• Superannuation – Some members have had access to special arrangements, eg Repatriation General Hospital members who have access to Commonwealth Scheme, and Metropolitan Fire Service scheme.

• No agreement on Human Resources Principles or Regional Principles.

• No commitment that members will not be worse off, including existing access to flexitime arrangements, access to car parks, pre paid gym fees in current location etc.

• No commitment to address additional costs incurred as a result of transferring, including travel costs/times, incentives for regional employees to move.

• No commitment that members relocating households will not be declared excess following subsequent restructure.

• Access to child care not addressed, including extra hours for metro members.

• Details on wording of proclamation to transfer employees between agencies not yet provided.

• No indication of how services will be maintained or workloads addressed.

• Classification issues not addressed, including outstanding reclassifications and disparity between agencies on classification of positions.

• New Government redeployment policy not finalised.

• No response from Government to PSA's request to reconsider impact on regional communities of job losses.

• Not known how part time FTE positions convert to employees to be transitioned.

It is clear from this extensive list, there are still many unknown variables in the Shared Services proposal. Shared Services SA have indicated they are aiming to identify employees transitioning by mid-December, with transition to begin from 22 February 2008 onwards. Given many employees take leave over the December/January period, the PSA has concerns about this proposed timeline.

PSA is concerned that in the absence of proper organisational arrangements and reporting structures that members working in Shared Services will experience increased workloads and lack of management support.

Members should demand information prior to any consideration about transitioning to Shared Services SA.

The PSA will be contacting members directly affected seeking more specific information on what type of industrial campaign should be undertaken to protect members' interests. If you have any examples in addition to those listed above, of the impact of Shared Services, please contact the PSA.

28 November 2007