News Flash

TRANSITION: DAIS-DTEI

PSA MEETS WITH DTEI CHIEF EXECUTIVE

On Monday 25^th September 2006, PSA President Mr Lindsay Oxlad and PSA Industrial Officer Michael Thorpe met with DTEI Chief Executive Mr Jim Hallion, to hear details of approaches to the transition of significant DAIS Business Units into DTEI.

The meeting was also attended by Mr Chris Oerman ED Corporate Services DTEI, Mr Kevin O'Callaghan ED Commercial and Government Services DAIS, and Ms Judith Carr ED Building Management DAIS, together with representatives from other unions (AMWU, AWU, CEPU).

As a pre-cursor to the meeting Mr Hallion confirmed there will be no forced redundancies and staff will not be disadvantaged, in line with assurances previously obtained by the PSA from Government.

Mr Hallion confirmed the areas to be transitioned from DAIS into DTEI are the:

• Building Management Directorate.

• Government ICT Services Business Units.

• Parliamentary Network Support Group.

• Lands Services Business Unit incorporating the Registrar General, Surveyor General, and Valuer General.

• Service SA Business Unit.

Importantly Mr Hallion also confirmed the transition would not be facilitated as a 'takeover', but enabled through a merger of the DAIS business units into DTEI.

The merger is to occur in a planned and structured manner, with all DAIS and DTEI staff who are affected to be fully consulted and given an adequate opportunity to provide input into the transition process.

Mr. Hallion emphasised that DAIS staff are to be merged into DTEI without loss of existing entitlements, and business structures would remain intact until such time they can be merged into DTEI. By implication this also requires a review of the current operational procedures in DTEI to facilitate their merger with DAIS. Mr. Hallion confirmed an example of how new business operations will emerge is through the amalgam of DAIS Service SA, and DTEI Customer Services.

Staffing

Consequential to the significant number of people in either acting or secondment positions within DAIS, it is proposed that each position be looked at on an individual basis to ensure members retain their rights and entitlements and are not disadvantaged as a consequence of the merger. Members will have the right to appeal any decision which they consider causes them disadvantage.

As the merger will cause DTEI to increase approximately 30% in size Mr. Hallion also fore-shadowed that some staff in the DAIS Human Resources support team will be transferred into DTEI to provide an ongoing Human Resources support function in the expanded department.

Where to from Here ?

PSA President Mr. Lindsay Oxlad and PSA Industrial Officer Mr. Michael Thorpe are the PSA nominees to the Peak Consultancy Group established as the consultative forum for the merger and will ensure PSA members in both DAIS and DTEI are fully consulted about the merger process.

The PSA will represent members to ensure the merging of operations and functions within DAIS and DTEI is undertaken in a transparent and equitable manner. The PSA will ensure members are not disadvantaged.

The parties at today's meeting agreed that the inaugural Peak Consultive Group meeting should be scheduled for early October with regular meetings (approximately fortnightly) occurring during the transitional process.

The PSA will consult with members to ensure you are fully informed as the merger proceeds.

If you have queries with the matters raised within this information brief please contact PSA Industrial Officer Michael Thorpe on 8205 3284 or email: mct@cpsu.asn.au