23 May 2013

Campaign results in significant change to state sector legislation
The Public Service Association says a campaign against unfair aspects of the State Sector and Public Finance Reform Bill has resulted in some significant change to the legislation.

Following a large number of submissions to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, the committee has agreed on amendments to the Bill which have been tabled in the House.

The PSA made the most substantive submission, supported by hundreds of submissions by its members.

PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott says the committee has taken on a number of recommendations, resulting in some meaningful changes around the redundancy rights and employment protections for state sector workers.

The amendments are an improvement on the proposed redundancy entitlements laid out in the original Bill. It means the only public servants who will not receive redundancy entitlements are those who turn down an offer of a similar job with the same terms and conditions.

Brenda Pilott says there are parts of the legislation which the PSA continues to have reservations about.

“We are still disappointed that the right for public service workers to bargain their redundancy provisions has been removed and that a proper redeployment scheme hasn’t been considered. We will continue to campaign on these issues.”

“The legislation certainly isn’t perfect but we’ve successfully made a lot of headway. It’s in far better shape now than it was when it was introduced in terms of its impact on the state sector employment environment and conditions of workers.”

She says “it was clear through the select committee process that PSA members felt very strongly about the potential the Bill had to remove some of their existing rights and they sent committee members a very strong message.”

“It’s pleasing to see that the select committee took the issues on board, and it should be congratulated for that.”

ENDS

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