The purpose of this Circular is to seek your early action to provide the Premier's Department with a list of issues you wish to progress with the Public Service Association in order to achieve the savings needed to fund the two further 2% increases envisaged in the Heads of Agreement to the Award.

The initial approach was to seek to achieve real identifiable savings on a sector-wide basis through the Corporate Services Review and other reviews of the Council on the Cost of Government which impact on groups covered by this Award - not program savings. Those savings to be achieved from 1 July 1997 and be in addition to those in the 1997/98 Budget The Heads of Agreement also provides where ~ necessary for the Association to work with each organisation to achieve the savings.

A number of organisations have achieved the corporate services savings and other savings through the Co~operative Negotiation Agenda for groups covered by the Award to support a 2% increase from July 1998.

Accordingly, action has been taken to vary the Award on an organisation by organisation basis as the savings are realised. The initial application for variation is for non-budget sector organisations and those on hypothecated funding. The variation covers approximately 6,400 staff in thirteen organisations. Further consideration will be given to budget sector organisations soon.

A further increase of 2% from January 1999 may be possible depending on the corporate services savings and other savings achieved through the Co-operative Negotiation Agenda for these groups. Your list of issues should be provided to the Premier's Department, Public Sector Management Office on facsimile number (02) 9228 4420 no later than 18 June 1998.

 A form is attached to facilitate your providing the issues in a consistent way. The form provides for you to title each issue together with a brief description. Your organisation should be available to progress these issues at the earliest opportunity.

The issues may cover matters dealt with in Part 3 Conditions of Service, Part 5 Allowances and Part 6 Leave of the Public Sector Management (General) Regulation 1996. They may also go to matters listed in the attachments to this Circular taken from the Framework to the 1995 Award on enterprise bargaining and the Co-operative Negotiation Agenda to the 1997 Award. These references are not meant to limit the issues.

There are, however, a number of core non-negotiable issues such as the provisions of the Public Sector Management Act 1988 as well as Part 2 Appointment of public servants and Part 4 Discipline of the Public Sector Management (General) Regulation 1996. Specifically the merit principle, equal employment opportunity principles and the managing displaced employees policy are core non-negotiables.

Clarification on whether an issue is negotiable may be sought from your client contact officer in the Premier's Department, Public Sector Management Office on telephone number (02) 9228 5013.

The Dispute proceedings on the proposed industrial action by the Association on 12 June 1998 is again before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on 10 June.

C Gellatly
Director General

Contact: Client Contact Officer
Telephone: (02) 9228 5013