Thank you to the many thousands of members who took the hard decision not to go to work on Friday 26 March 2004.

Your proven commitment is evidence to Government that they must genuinely consider your claim.

PSA members started with bans, held a rally in February and now a state wide strike in March. The pattern to escalation is clear for the Government to see, and will continue.

The PSA claim is for improved, but reasonable, pay and conditions. The Government's offer, however, is misleading.

Your 2001 EA covered the period to November 2003. The PSA has said to the Government that it would recommend acceptance of an offer of 10% for the 2 years from November 2003 to November 2005.

The Government's offer, however, is for 7 to 8% for a 2 year Agreement from the date of certification of any new Agreement. Allowing for any ballot, the earliest this could be certified is June 2004. The Government's offer of 7-8% is therefore for the period of June 2004 to June 2006.

What about the value of the 'lost' period from November 2003 to June 2004?

Effectively, the Government wants you to believe that 7-8% is reasonable, even though in reality it would cover November 2003 to June 2006 (or later), a period of 32 months!

Not only is the amount of the offer not enough, and discriminatory in its application, but it is effectively for a longer period of time.

FUTURE ACTION:

All members should continue to apply bans, including Ministerials and withdrawal of goodwill and consider escalation. Please discuss suggestions with your worksite Representatives and PSA Industrial Officers and Officials.

(Peter Christopher, Chief Industrial Officer pgc@cpsu.asn.au)