Enterprise Agreement Update: SA Government still refuses to acknowledge cost of living has reduced the real value of your wages

PSA representatives met again with the government this week to continue negotiations for your enterprise agreement. Following the government’s failure to respond to questions in earlier letters about acknowledging the cost of living crisis, the PSA took the opportunity to ask the questions directly to the government.

The government would not confirm that the real value of public sector wages has been reduced, nor could they explain why, or why not, they had come to that position.

A critical part of these negotiations is all parities accepting the context in which the negotiations are taking place. This then leads to establishing the basis and extent of the wages issue that needs to be resolved. Members are experiencing a cost of living crisis.

If we are to have genuine negotiations about wage rises in the next agreement, a shared understanding of the issues needing to be solved through those wage increases is imperative.

It is obvious to the PSA, especially given the government’s initial proposition, and their steadfast refusal to acknowledge the cost of living crisis hurting PSA members, that the government is still choosing to ignore the current underpinning context for negotiations.

What next from here

PSA members around the state are uniting to secure a fair deal. Members’ position is clear - the PSA's priority for this agreement is to secure a wage outcome which addresses the cost of living crisis, while improving conditions to make working in the public sector competitive and attractive.

Members are encouraged to speak with your PSA Organisers and Worksite Representatives, and to attend meetings being held in your workplaces where you can:

• hear about the current status of the salaried Enterprise Agreement negotiations – understand where they are at and what it means for you

• gain insights into the terms and conditions being discussed

• discuss next steps

• discover how you can get involved and make a difference.

THE BEST OUTCOMES COME FROM STANDING UNITED

We all know that PSA members working together can improve outcomes for public sector workers and the community. You and your colleagues have the power to make a real difference. But we have to be in it together to make that difference.

Ask those yet to join you in the PSA to join online today.

YOUR UNION, YOUR VOICE, YOUR AGREEMENT

Contact: youragreement@psaofsa.asn.au