Latest on 20% claim

An offer on pay increases was given to us on March 7 and presented to PSA Central Council on March 10.

The offer is for employees covered under the Crown Employees (Public Sector Salaries 1997) Award Application, ie public servants and those agencies that use public service pay rates.

The PSA's claim, our starting point, is for 20% over two years for members only.

The offer from the Public Employment Office consisted of a pay offer and a "co-operative negotiation agenda".

It can be summarised in three parts - the pay offer, the "co-operative negotiation agenda", and the members only issue.

The pay offer

It consists of 6% guaranteed plus up to 9% dependent on productivity savings.

The proposed payments are:

• 3% guaranteed from 1 July 1997.
• Up to 2% productivity-dependent from 1 January, 1998.
• Up to 5% from 1 July, 1998 consisting of 3% guaranteed plus up to 2% productivity- dependent.
• 3% from 1 January 1999 dependent on achieving the first 2% productivity adjustment.
• Award expires 31/12/99.

"Co-operative negotiation agenda"

They had previously been told some of the items were unacceptable but they tabled them again.

Some other items are continuations of items included in the Framework Document of the past award.

Members Only

The PEO's proposal is not a "Members Only" offer. The PEO are not opposing a "Members Only" claim, but are clearly not propounding or wishing to support it.

PSA's response

The pay offer is not acceptable in its amount and timings.

Pay rises based on productivity savings are not acceptable.

Some matters in the "co-operative negotiation agenda" are not acceptable.

The PEO's weak stand on "members only" is not consistent with previous discussions with Government officials.

The PSA will be making an amended claim in line with our Members Only claim, and which is unfettered by productivity constraints.