PSA Formally Rejects Government’s Shameful ‘Initial Proposition’

The PSA has formally rejected the government’s ‘initial proposition’ for salary increases in your new enterprise agreement. In our response to the government, PSA General Secretary Natasha Brown labelled the ‘initial proposition’ as a “shameful insult to all public sector workers covered by this agreement”, and that the PSA rejects the “‘proposition’ in its insulting entirety.”

The PSA’s response also reconfirms our position:

“At the first meeting for negotiations held on 9 September 2024, I publicly put you and the government on notice that we expect a significant wage package in this enterprise agreement that restores the lost value of public sector wages and brings South Australia’s public sector wages back into line with other states and the private sector. That position remains unchanged.

PSA representatives have also made this point directly to you, both prior to the first official meeting and at each subsequent meeting since.”

You can read the PSA’s letter to the government PSA letter to AGD IRAP 241111 Kidman - Response to Salaried EA proposition.pdf

As advised in our update of 4 November 2024 (read the update here), the government put forward an ‘initial proposition’ which would include “salary increases of up to 3% per annum” (undefined) for 2025, 2026 and 2027.

The response from PSA members and your public sector colleagues has quite rightly been one of outrage that the government would propose such a clear statement of disrespect for you and the work you undertake on behalf of all South Australians.

The below selected feedback we received following the ‘proposition’ is representative of the majority of feedback:

‘The initial offer by Government falls well short of what Public Servants need to keep from becoming homeless.’

‘We are not valued, our work is not respected, words don’t buy groceries money does.’

‘Don’t insult our intelligence and dignity with this offer, data does not lie…your ‘proposal’ is totally inadequate and disrespectful’

‘It’s insulting at best, and not an offer we would ever consider accepting. They should add a zero to the end of it to make it 30%.

‘It’s actually really upsetting to think that this is how little our employer respects us and our work. It makes us all want to quit and move to the private sector where they’ll at least pay us a reasonable wage.’

‘We have been down approximately 3 FTE in every community team for the last 3 months. Our existing staff absorb the consumer workload until we get more staff. At the same time they are struggling to support their families with increases in interest rates and food.’

‘3% is low balling and we are due a pay rise now not next year. 10% is more on the mark and due now. We need to stay strong on this one! Staff at ….. are ready and willing to take action.’

‘Workloads in many areas are out of control, getting new staff is lengthy process and people often leave after less than 12 months. We are constantly expected to be doing more and more while getting nothing in return. ‘

‘I am sick of covering several jobs because SA Health can’t attract staff and has no workforce depth. And the number 1 reason for this lack of depth and employer attractiveness is poor pay.’

Wage suppression is an achievement?

Confirming once more the attitude of the government and the challenge ahead of us, pictures posted on the Department for Correctional Services’ intranet of a senior managers forum showed managers boasting that “keeping staff on relatively low incomes in face of inflation” was one of their achievements. (read the full article here)

This is symptomatic of public sector management implementing successive governments’ policies of suppressing public service wages.

If you haven’t already, talk to your PSA Worksite Representative or Organiser now about what actions you and your colleagues can be taking in your workplace to tell the government you are serious about achieving a respectful agreement.

The PSA will continue to pursue the matters that are important to members in these negotiations.