The PSA has lodged applications to vary the Community Living Award (CLA) and Residential Centre Support Services Staff Award to protect and improve employment conditions ahead of the anticipated privatisation of government operated disability services. The PSA has urged the NSW Government to pay disability workers the full 2.5 per cent pay rise recently won by the union for public servants.
In an initial legal victory for the union, we were successful in arguing the Industrial Relations Commission (the independent umpire) should hear our application, despite strong opposition from the NSW Government.
The PSA is seeking to incorporate group home rostering arrangements into the CLA and include better consultation, salary packaging and leave arrangements for both awards. Our application also seeks to include clear salary and classification schedules for employees covered by these instruments.
While we expect the NSW Government to maintain its opposition to protecting or improving the employment rights of disability staff, we have called on the Government not to withhold the 1 July 2.5 per cent public sector salary increase from disability workers in response to the union exercising a legal right available to workers under the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW).
The matter is set down for hearing on 27 and 28 July 2017.
Not a member? Join today