Commerce: Restructures without Policies

Central Council, 10 October 2005

Report adopted

In July 2005 the Department of Commerce provided the PSA with a Management Plan for a proposed restructure of the Hunter/New England Project Management Teams.

Citing a downturn in 'business', the restructure projected a net loss of only six out of sixty positions, but arrived there by deleting sixteen jobs and then creating another ten lesser-graded positions.

Notwithstanding concerns about the large proportion of members affected and the viability of the remaining service, raising greater alarm were the means proposed to achieve these ends. Whilst the Department of Commerce already had a Placement Policy which had been negotiated with the PSA and which had been utilised in countless prior restructures, here it was to be ignored. In its place was a process where no voluntary redundancies would be offered and staff would be 'merit assessed' for positions without application based on their work performance.

It was the PSA's position that the proposed placement policy would maximise the impact on the staff, and after failed attempts to consult on the matter, a dispute was lodged in the Industrial Relations Commission.

In the interim the Department produced another management plan, this time for a restructure of Sydney Region Project Management, with the same problematic processes and even greater job losses.

Deputy President Harrison appreciated the problematic outcomes that the suggested method of recruitment was likely to produce, and at the last appearance directed the parties to confer with the Premier's Department.

Whilst again the Department of Commerce was unwilling or unable to alter its' mooted process, the Premier's Department has indicated that it will not agree to a management plan in its current form and negotiations are to continue.