Deputy President Hampton, acting with the authority of the Full Commission, today made an Interim Award which provides for a 3.5 per cent pay increase from the first pay day on or after 1 October 2004. The Interim Award also protects existing conditions that were previously contained in the 2001 Parity Agreement.

Government had argued against the making of any Interim Award. The Government's position was that you should not receive any pay increase until the full Arbitration case was finalised.

In order to prevent the situation where, under the Industrial and Employee Relations Act, the 2001 Agreement with lesser pay rates would have overridden the Interim Award containing the 3.5 per cent interim increase, the Commission has rescinded the 2001 Parity Agreement. All of the rescinded conditions are now contained within the Interim Award.

The making of the Interim Award today removes the final barrier to members now being paid the 3.5 per cent increase. PSA will contact Agencies to ensure that payment occurs as soon as possible. Any delay to date has unfortunately been due to the Government attitude regarding this matter.

Legal Services Commission and Land Management Corporation staff are now included within this Interim Award and their earlier Agreements have also been rescinded.

Today's making of the Interim Award is of critical importance. Firstly, the Government did not want any such Award to be made, and secondly, the Government wanted to limit your pay rise to its offer made earlier this year. The process now underway will see the case put to the Industrial Relations Commission for an additional payment over and above the 3.5 per cent.

The full text of the Interim Award is available here.

For information contact Chief Industrial Officer, Peter Christopher on
8205 3200 or email pgc@cpsu.asn.au

PSA RECRUITMENT PROMOTION

It is thanks to the work of the PSA and support of members that Wages Parity Public Sector employees will be receiving an interim 3.5% pay increase. In recognition of the recruitment efforts of members the PSA will be giving prizes all through November 2004 to Worksite Reps and members who recruit new members. Any Worksite Reps or members recruiting in November will be eligible to be in the draw for a prize. More details are available from the PSA or here.

PSA CAMPAIGNING FOR A FAIR DEAL