News Flash

Background:

A decision of government in the last state budget was to implement a recommendation of the sustainable Budget Commission to implement the Across Government Facilities Management Arrangements (AGFMA) in SA Health.

The Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has the responsibility to manage the AGFMA.

On Wednesday 9 November 2011 the PSA, together with other unions with members employed in SA Health building and engineering maintenance, attended the inaugural consultative meeting with government representatives from DPTI and SA Health.

Outcomes:

During the meeting the unions were advised the following:

-  The Across Government Facilities Management Arrangement (AGFMA) was created in 1998 and currently incorporates 32 agencies across government.

-  26 September 2011 Cabinet approved the inclusion of Health and SAFECOM into AGFMA and further data for the feasibility of incorporating Housing SA.

-  All Health assets will be incorporated into AGFMA on a site by site basis over a two year period.

-  The current DPTI maintenance contracts have been split between DPTI Building Maintenance Services (BMS) and Spotless. The contracts were tendered for 9 years terminating in 2015.

-  BMS predominantly has the contract for regional based assets while Spotless has the contract for metropolitan based assets.

-  The maintenance contracts include all maintenance (repair) work and minor works to the value of $150,000. Major Works >$150,000 will remain with Health.

-  Approx 280 FTE's will be affected, 200 "trades" and approx 80 SAPSSEI Award FTEs.

IMPORTANTLY:  The proposed arrangements for managing "trades" FTEs and SAPSSEI Award FTEs is different.
"Trades" unions have been asked to advise which option they prefer:
        -  all "trades" employees transfer to DPTI but remain employed in a Health unit. Those employees employed at a Spotless site would be "made available" to work for                 Spotless.

        -  50% FTEs transfer to DPTI and 50% FTEs transfer to Spotless

        -  Dept of Health labour hire to Spotless.

Any incentive to encourage "trades" FTEs to transfer to Spotless will have to be negotiated.

Approx 80 SAPSSEI Award FTEs:

    -  Dependent on the role they currently perform,

        -    some employees will be transferred to DPTI,
        -    some employees will still be required by Health and remain at Health,
        -    some employees may choose to transfer to contractors,
        -    remainder employees become redeployees in Health.

There was no indication of how many SAPSSEI FTEs will be required by DPTI or Health.

Next meeting:       23 November @ 11:30

Where to from here ?
The PSA is committed to ensure no members will be disadvantaged consequential to the integration of the building and engineering maintenance in SA Health into DPTI.

The PSA has requested confirmation from DPTI:

         -        time frame for the roll out across each site to be incorporated into AGFMA
         -        Transition Principles which include, but not limited to:
                                    -        definition of staff deemed to be in scope
                                    -        definition of staff deemed to be "trades"
                                    -        definition of staff not included in "trades"
                                    -        appeal provisions
                                    -        details of incentives
                                    -        no disadvantage provisions

Salary Packaging:                              

On the same day 9th November 2011, PSA Industrial Officers met with David Swan, CE of Health SA. PSA requested that SA Health initiate the request to the ATO that those in receipt of Salary Packaging arrangements at the time of transfer to DPTI, will if they stay working in a hospital or health unit, though employed by DPTI continue to be eligible. Mr Swan agreed.

2 February 2011