Following on from the resounding “YES” vote from government employees for the 2006 Enterprise Agreement, the new structures for those in the Professional Stream and Medical Scientists will soon be implemented, back-dated to the 1^st pay day on or after the 1^st October 2006.

The translation into the new structure for Professionals is available at http://www.cpsu.asn.au/webnews/Translationinfo.pdf and for Medical Scientists at http://www.cpsu.asn.au/webnews/MeStranslation.pdf. As well as the 3.5% per annum increase this gives additional increases for all of those employees classified as Professionals (PSO) and Medical Scientists (MSc) on 1/10/06. The “existing” salary is the salary which applied at 30 September 2006, and is the salary increase paid from 1 October 2005 in the 2004 Enterprise Agreement.

Part of the classification criteria to assist in determining at what level a position is classified are the Work Level Definitions (WLDs). The WLDs in the Professional Stream, Schedule 3 of the SA Public Sector Salaried Employees (Interim) Award (1994), and Schedule 1 Medical Scientists (South Australian Public Sector) Award (1999) which are the Safety Net Awards, will be over-ridden by the new WLD's in the Enterprise Agreement 2006.

This will have no impact on where employees translate into the new structure but the new WLD's will be used in the future both for classifying new positions and for reclassification purposes.

As reported in the PSA brief of 16 November 2006 the PSA, in negotiations with government, improved the WLDs from the original offer. The WLDs allow for classifying positions on the basis of being

1. Advanced Practitioners

2. Specialist or

3. having Managerial Responsibilities

Progression can be either by successfully obtaining a promotional position or reclassification as a result of additional skills and responsibilities being demonstrated and acknowledged.

The classifications of MPS1, MPS2 and MPS3 will no longer exist. However, there will be an additional $1,750 per annum, at the PO3, PO4 and PO5 levels for those currently undertaking managerial responsibilities. As well as applying to all those who were MPS's on 1/10/06 there will be other employees classified at PO3, PO4 and PO5 now eligible. A PO2 who is required to undertake managerial responsibilities as defined in the new WLDs should be at least classified PO3.

The PSA will be having ongoing discussions with the employer on the processes for determining eligibility for all reclassifications including the managerial allowance. The PSA is proposing an easier process and format for reclassification purposes. Additional classification criteria, e.g. “bench-mark” positions may need to be developed. The Government agreed with the PSA that the new WLDs will need to be reviewed within 12 months to ensure that the needs of our professional members, for appropriate classification levels and progression, are catered for.

To assist the PSA in negotiating with government, the PSA intends to use Professional Industrial Committees as working parties to make submissions on behalf of the many professional groups. The PSA will develop committees either as standing or ad hoc, in response to requests from members. Please advise professional@cpsu.asn.au if you wish to be involved in these, leaving details of your profession, current level and times you can be available. These committees will then meet in 2007.

The new Professional and Medical Scientists structures as well as delivering higher pay increases, have also created additional opportunities for members and the PSA will be in ongoing negotiations with government to ensure that promotional progression and appropriate classification level for positions will apply.

For further enquiries contact professional@cpsu.asn.au