Documents Workplace Relations 10.14379.pdf - Chief Minister's ...

With regard to the management of annual leave, the Govenunent's position is consistent with
the arrangements applying In the ACTPS that employees have an annual leave usage plan in
place if their credits exceed those accmed in two years. The adoption of this provision is to
encourage the use of annual leave, and is not dependent on any review of TOIL arrangements.
In relation to the accrual of TOIL, the Government's position is that an 80-hour cap is more
than sufficient, on the basis that senior officers in the ACTPS do not have access to such
generous arrangements, ihat the salaries of LAMS employees are somewhat in advance of their
ACTPS counterparts as reflected in the 2002 Marshall Repod, and that compensation for
additional hours worked is incorporated into these salaries.
The Govemment' s position on these three unresolved matters is ·not unreasopable. Better
management to avoid the excessive accrual of ammalleave and TOIL are important from an
occupational health and safety perspective. Amending and clarifying the termination payment
provision will go some way to addressing the reconm1endation in the Anditor-General's 2009
report on the Adminislratiml of employine111 issues .for staff of Members of the Legislative
Assembly and the subsequent criticisms levelled at government and unions.
While the Government position in relation to these matters has moved, it appears that the staff
and unions have to date been 1mprepared to make any concessions. It is tltis unwillingness of
staff and unions to 1i1ake concessions on these matters that has prevented the parties reaching
agteement, not delays attributed to the govenn11ent negotiatii1g team. I therefore request that
staff reconsider their position in relation to these matters and I reaffirm my commitment to
continued negotiations.
Yours sincerely
Jon StanhopeMLA
Chief Minister
CC: All !viLAs, All LAMS Staff, Michael White (MEAA), Matt Taylor (CPSU),
Leila Walter (CPSU)
2 0 DEC 2010