The PSA is interested in members views on the current dispute with the Department over recruitment and appointment of ASI and SI's who may not at the time of appointment hold the prescribed competencies as outlined in the Award and MOU. It is important that you have read the associated bulletin prior to indicating you position on how the PSA should proceed.

This survey will close on Friday 25 January 2019.

Question Title

* 1. Proceed to Arbitration or Discontinue and proceed with s.19 Review

There has now been three conferences before the IRC in conciliation. The Department has provided a number of assurances to the PSA in relation to the appointment of Inspectors.

If the PSA does not accept that these assurances meet the needs of member’s we have no option now but to seek an arbitrated decision by the Commission on the interpretation of the Award.

The PSA cannot guarantee the outcome of an arbitrated process and the Department has indicated that they will seek to use other statutory means if necessary.

If the Departments assurances are considered acceptable the PSA can discontinue the current dispute.

With the matter no longer in dispute we could seek to use the s.19 review process of the Award (currently suspended) to seek amendment to the Award for better clarification.

Question Title

* 2. New Award and MOU negotiations

Throughout the course of this dispute it has been recognised by both the Commissioner and all parties that the current Award is now over 10 years old.

 The Department has indicated a willingness to look at entering into Award negotiations with the PSA for a new Award.

The s.19 Review process will still be required in the interim and the Award bargaining process would be lengthy but would allow for the development of a log of claims, however – any new Award negotiations would still at this time be subject to the current Governments wages policy, this could change if there were a change in State Government.

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