SA:SA budget challenge to the High Court

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2011
SA:SA budget challenge to the High Court

ADELAIDE, April 1 AAP - South Australia's Public Service Association (PSA) has confirmed
plans to take its fight against cuts to public sector jobs and conditions to the High
Court.

PSA general secretary Jan McMahon said on Friday the association had this week filed
papers with the court after exhausting all legal avenues in SA.

The association has argued that the government breached enterprise bargaining agreements
when it announced cuts to jobs and to conditions, including leave loading and long service
provisions, in last year's budget.

It first took its case to the Industrial Relations Commission and then to the SA Supreme
Court, but both ruled they did not have jurisdiction to consider the matter.

Ms McMahon said the PSA maintained that the government had breached its agreements
with the workers and must be held to account.

"We will leave no stone unturned in protecting the integrity of workers' rights," she said.

"To that end the PSA will be pursuing all available avenues to hold the government
to account for the attack on protected conditions such as long service leave and leave
loading entitlements."

AAP tjd/nb

KEYWORD: BUDGETSA

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