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Dispute with RTA re Human Resources Review
12 September 2007
PSA and RTA representatives met on the 31 August 2007 to negotiate outstanding issues in dispute between the parties.
As reported in our last Bulletin the PSA was seeking a review process for affected staff where a position had been deleted and replaced by a new position in the new structure. This was where the RTA considered a major change had occurred and where the PSA has disputed this in a number of cases. The RTA has agreed to review those individual cases and the over 20 staff comments concerning the review proposal.
At the scheduled report back to the NSW Industrial Commission on 10 September 2007 the RTA reluctantly agreed to the following timeline:-
- Review process-the RTA will conduct the review of individual cases and staff comments PRIOR to the release of a final determination. This means a process where each staff member who has requested face to face feedback from management must have that consultation concluded prior to the determination.
The PSA understands the RTA was looking at making the determination on the 14th September 2007 and just communicating by email or letter.
- Trial placements for displaced staff. The PSA considers that this issue will no longer be in dispute if the RTA honours it commitment to follow its redeployment policy.
- Availability of Project Officer positions for displaced staff. The PSA's position was that 10 identified positions in the new structure should be made available to displaced regional and other staff. They include 6 USS 8 and 4 USS 7 positions. The PSA also submitted to the IRC that in this technological age the location of the jobs should be flexible to ensure a maximum opportunity for displaced staff to be successfully redeployed. The RTA could only give a commitment to make 2 USS 7 operations positions available to displaced regional and other staff. The RTA needed further instructions as to whether other positions could be located outside of Centennial Plaza or Parramatta office and made available for redeployment of displaced staff.
- Redeployment/Recruitment- the parties are still in dispute in relation to external recruitment occurring prior to the successful redeployment of all displaced staff. Following the matching of displaced staff the RTA wishes to go to an internal/external recruitment process. The PSA is concerned that any displaced staff who have been unable to secure redeployment through the review process or at grade ought to have priority status over any other external applicant for vacant new positions. If that means renegotiating the existing policy then that is what the PSA is prepared to do.
- Permanent Salary maintenance-the RTA is not prepared to budge on this issue. Please note that it has been a past custom and practice that when a review proposal sees the same job have its grading reduced the incumbent has had their situation "red circled" and they retain their grade until they move into a different position. These situations have been subject to individual representation by the PSA in past reviews on a case by case basis or where a new employment classification has been negotiated on behalf of existing staff.
The parties are scheduled to report back to the IRC on 24 September 2007 on the outcome of point 1 the review process. The PSA will be seeking further conciliation on points 3 to 5.
The PSA is aware of communications from management as to staff being 'frustrated' by the length of time to finalise the review. The PSA's members are frustrated with the lack of transparency and unequal application of policy across the HR branch in relation to the HR function-Stage 2 proposal of 12 July 2007. If policy had been equitably applied in this review to all affected positions then the parties would not be in dispute.
If members seek any assistance in relation to their individual case or further information please contact the PSA RTA Organiser on (02) 9290 1555.
Authorised by John Cahill, General Secretary, Public Service Association of NSW
Contact Details
Greg Shaw, Principal Industrial Officer
Ph: 02 9220 0929
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