After a long running case, run by the S A Public Service Association, the State Branch of the National State Public Servants union, CPSU SPSF, the State SA Industrial Relations Commission granted 12 weeks full pay. This is an 8 weeks increase, and three times as much as the increase the SA Government was prepared to offer in their negotiations with the union.

David Carey, the National Secretary of the State Public Servants union, the CPSU SPSF, congratulated the union for pushing on with the case before the State Commission.

He said Today we today got another example of the rights and benefits for women workers that John Howard wants to take away. He wants to force all State workers to the Federal System. AWAs and bad bargaining with an uncooperative boss.

If John Howard and Kevin Andrews had their way, there would be no State Commission to be the independent umpire. There would be no place to put a case for fair conditions for women workers after the boss says No way!

Mr Carey said In the new industrial relations world announced by Kevin Andrews, being introduced after the Coalition controls the Senate in July, the State Women public servants would still be battling it out against the State Government who wanted to give then only 8 weeks.

In the Federal IR system you cannot force the employer to negotiate. Its take it or leave it, with no fair arbitration. Where would women workers be then?

The CPSU SPSF is the national State Public Sector union representing 115,000 State public sector workers across Australia.

For further information contact David Carey, National Secretary, 0418 233 923 mobile, or Jan McMahon SA State Secretary on 0418 845 549.