Wages Submissions with Fair Work

CPSU and State Government submissions for the arbitration on public service wages were lodged on Friday with Fair Work which has issued directions for the lodgement of evidence and argument from both parties. 

Hearing dates are yet to be set by Fair Work.
 
Government submits;

Govt says employees can have 2.75% per year over 4 years.

Govt wants individual contracts (IFA’s) on everything including hours, overtime, penalties, loadings, and allowances.

Govt wants probationary period doubled.

Govt wants progression payment access to be tightened to ‘meeting the standards of excellence in the “progression criteria” with 6 months in role to qualify for payment.

Govt submits that those contentious policy and jurisdictional clauses all be deleted inc.

  1. Categories of Employment inc the use of casuals and fixed termers.
  2. OHS & IR Training, Union Communication, Protection for Reps, and Right of Entry.

Govt wants to water down Redeployment processes.

Govt position on the proposed Child Protection Practitioner structure is unclear as their submission refers to a Table 10 of schedule C and that is missing, also the CYF rates seem to be proposing a 3% increase.  The department is also still claiming that the first hour is included in the standby allowance for Rural after hours and the sleepover allowance.

CPSU submits;

The union says 12% and a two year Agreement is appropriate with a further 1.5% to be paid after the 3 month re-negotiation period if the next new agreement is not in place by 30 June 2014.

3.25% from 1 October 2011.
2% from I February 2012.
3.25% from 1 October 2012.
2% from 1 February 2013.
1.5% from 1 October 2013.

The union says the Agreement should end on 31st March 2014.

CPSU has submitted that all the policy and jurisdictional clauses the Govt want deleted should all be included in the terms as agreed previously by the parties.

CPSU has again requested an early and urgent ruling from Fair Work on whether the Govt action to can walk away from agreed clauses is permissible considering they were agreed between the parties up until the post termination 21 day compulsory conciliation period.  

CPSU will defend its members’ entitlements and will argue and lead evidence in this arbitration for wages parity for our workforce with recent settlements for police officers.

Govt has time to settle as Agreements bank up.