SA public servants reject deal

By Trish Corcoran

ADELAIDE -- A meeting of almost 1000 PSA/CPSU (Public Service Association/Commonwealth Public Sector Union) members here on September 6 voted to reject the state government's proposal on enterprise bargaining.

The framework agreement set up in 1993 provided for wage increases based on productivity gains, not on job cuts. Under the government's latest proposal, the life of enterprise bargaining agreements would be reduced from three years to one, with no recognition of the changes which have already occurred through the loss of thousands of public servants who have taken separation packages since April 1993.

In addition, the government has offered a possible 2% wage increase, to be funded by further staff cuts. This shows the proposal is designed not for recognising efficiency improvements, but for further reducing the public sector work force.

The meeting passed a resolution condemning the effect of the recent state budget cuts on services, as highlighted by a representative of the Dale Street (Port Adelaide) Women's Health Centre. Funding cuts will the centre insufficient staff to provide adequate services to the public.

While the government will continue to use enterprise bargaining as one method of shedding staff, it has reiterated its intention to use compulsory retrenchment if necessary.

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