Public Service Bargaining Parameters

PSA welcomes the release today of the Government’s updated bargaining parameters for employment agreement negotiations in the state sector, especially at a time when base pay rates for public servants have fallen far behind those in the private sector, PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said today.

“The parameters identify the valuable role which unions play in representing their members and, through collective representation and bargaining, addressing the inherent inequality of bargaining power in employment relationships. They also specifically mention the PSA’s Partnership for Quality agreement with the government which focuses on establishing co-operative and open relationships between employer and employee, employee and union, and employer and union.”

“The parameters go some way towards improving fairness for salary setting and progression, but more remains to be done to reduce the current reliance on discretionary pay systems. Another important mechanism, not specifically mentioned in the parameters, which will work towards achieving more fairness is pay and employment equity.

“The PSA will work within the parameters to achieve sustained improvements in our members’ pay and conditions.”

Richard Wagstaff said the bargaining parameters, in conjunction with the Government’s Review of the Centre, will contribute to an improved and better co-ordinated and capable state sector which had lost significant ground during the 1980s and 1990s.

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