News Flash

Earlier this year the Government signed a new Enterprise Agreement for Government Sector workers including those in Health. This Agreement included clauses to protect existing conditions of employment.

In September the Treasurer announced cuts to public sector conditions of employment.  This is clearly breaching the earlier commitments made by Government.

ENTERPRISE BARGAINING
In December 2009 Public Servants voted to approve the negotiated Government offer.  This included:
(a)A one off $600 payment (clause 7)
(b)3 x 2.5% annual pay increases (clause 6)
(c)Extension of “No forced redundancy” (clause 9)
(d)Protection of existing conditions (clause 2.2.6)

This agreement was certified in the Industrial Relations Commission on 14/01/2010 as the South Australian Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2010.

PUBLIC SECTOR ACT 2009
Came into operation on 1/2/2010.  Continued previous Long Service Leave provisions (Part 6).

STATE ELECTION
Before the election the Premier, Mike Rann, guaranteed no forced redundancies.  The ALP was returned for a 4 year term in March 2010 ie until March 2014.

BUDGET SPEECH
In September 2010 Treasurer Foley's budget announcements included the following government's intentions:
(a)Remove Public Servants recreational leave loading (currently $723.60 per annum).
(b)Remove 6 calendar days per annum long service leave from Public Servants with 15 years or more service.  Effectively a 2% pay cut.
(c)If targets of staff cuts not met, introduce forced redundancies.

LEGISLATION
The Government has introduced a Bill into Parliament to make the changes to (a) and (b).  This is still being debated through the parliamentary processes in both Houses.

Public Service (Recreation Leave Loading) Award
The award states 1.5.2.1. “a loading of 17.5% of the salary up to a maximum of $723.60 for any one full entitlement of annual leave, or the allowances and penalties payable had the employee not been on leave during the relevant period, which ever is the greater.”
The maximum of $723.60 exceeds 17.5% at ASO 3 top increment.
The government has never discussed removing the loading with the PSA at any time.

NOT FAIR
This is not good faith bargaining as required by the “Fair Work Act 1994”, Part 2, “Regulation of Industrial matter by enterprise agreements
73 Objects of this Part

73 (b) to provide a framework for fair and effective negotiation and bargaining between employers and employees with a view to the making of such agreements..............

73 (c) to ensure that award remuneration and conditions of employment operate as a safety net underpinning the negotiated agreements at the enterprise or workplace level.”

This should apply to all employers but your employer, as the Government, has decided to make changes by legislation.  This is why the union movement, around Australia, including the ACTU is outraged and is protesting against the State Government proposals.

25 October 2010