Commerce flexi agreement

Executive, 26 May 2008, EX64/08

"That the PSA Executive endorse and sign the NSW Department of Commerce - Commerce Local Working Hours Agreement."

PSA Executive approved the "Commerce Local Working Hours Agreement" on 31st March for a ballot of members and endorsed a yes campaign in support of the draft agreement.

When the ballot of members closed on Friday 2nd May it was overwhelmingly endorsed by the membership.

Concurrently the PSA was negotiating with the Department about transitional arrangements subject to the approval and signing of any new agreement.

When the PSA sought a written assurance that no members would forfeit accrued flex hours in the transition to a new agreement this was not forthcoming. The PSA hopeful of a negotiated settlement postponed the report back to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, scheduled for 7th May, to the 14th of May.

On that date the PSA sought the assistance of the Commission in ensuring that our members flex entitlements were not unilaterally changed by the Department.

Following the intervention of the Commission the Department has now agreed that excess hours accrued under current flex agreements will be automatically carried over to the new flex agreement. Strategies must be developed to reduce excess hours to zero within six months of the commencement of the new agreement. Critically these strategies will be governed by clause 7.9 of the new flex agreement that states "strategies to reduce credit..... shall ensure that hours are not forfeited."