SHARED SERVICES UPDATE
WORKFORCE CONSULTATIVE MEETING

On Thursday 11 September 2008, Public Service Association (PSA) President Lindsay Oxlad and Senior Industrial Officer Simon Johnson attended a meeting of the Shared Services SA (SSSA) Workforce Consultative Group (WCG).

The following items were discussed

GROUP 1B TRANSITION

Transition of Group 1B employees has been completed. The PSA is continuing to consult with affected members on service delivery following transition.

INDUCTION SESSIONS

The PSA was actively involved in the recently completed formal induction sessions for Group 1B employees.

EMPLOYEE BRIEFING SESSIONS

The second round of Group 2 employee briefing sessions were completed on 8 August 2008, with additional sessions being held for DECS employees on 15 and 28 August 2008.

Group 3 briefing sessions were held at various SA health metropolitan sites. Videoconferencing took place for regionally located employees.

PSA attended these forums to enable the opportunity for individuals to raise any concerns or queries they had.

VACANCIES

The PSA queried the status of the vacancies being advertised internally and externally within Shared Services SA. SSSA representatives advised that there are a number of vacancies that have arisen from resignations within Country Health SA, and as a result certain positions will be ongoing whilst others will be contract, either long or short term.

The PSA reinforced the view that advertising vacancies, filling positions, conducting a restructure, and declaring various employees surplus is not appropriate workforce management.

SSSA advised that it is developing its workforce strategies in the context of minimising the number of future redeployees.

TRANCHE 2 DISCOVERY

SSSA advised that there have been preliminary discussions about potential in scope tranche 2 activities. Functions such as Human Resources, Injury management, Information technology, recruitment have the potential to be included in any future transition. Clearly, the PSA will be conducting worksite visits to discuss matters of concerns with potentially affected members.

OUTSTANDING ISSUES

The PSA provided SSSA Representatives with a copy of correspondence addressed to the Under Treasurer regarding outstanding matters of concern relating to Shared Services.

Essential issues such as family responsibility, reduction of take home pay, relocation expenses, redeployment, classification are all issues that are outstanding.

It is for this very reason, that all affected members attend the previously advised PSA meeting on Friday 19 September 2008 at 12.30pm at 122 Pirie Street to determine further action. Regional members who wish to be linked into the meeting, please contact Kimberley Rudland on 8205 3246 by midday Thursday 18 September 2008.

(PSA Senior Industrial Officer Simon Johnson on phone (08) 8205 3261 or email spj@cpsu.asn.au)

PSA WORKING FOR YOU