South Australia’s Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has rejected claims that a recent wage offer removed tenure for public servants.

Negotiations on an enterprise agreement that affects 37,000 employees across the SA public sector started in May this year.

Public Sector Employment Commissioner Erma Ranieri said in September that an offer was made for a new agreement encompassing a salary increase of 2.5 per cent a year and a new “Redeployment, Retraining and Redundancy” scheme.

“As part of the employee ballot process, information has been circulated by one of the employee associations asserting that the proposed Agreement ‘removes tenure’. This is not correct,” the Commissioner has told reporters.

“Our Office has developed a document, The Agreement Explained, which explains the finer detail of the Agreement to encourage employees to make an informed decision about the ballot.

“The Agreement Explained confirms that at Clause 8 of the proposed Agreement there will be a new Redeployment, Retraining and Redundancy scheme. It does not amend or change the basis of employment for employees.”

Reports say the agreement currently on the table offers a 7.5 per cent wage increase across 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Public Service Association of SA (PSA) said there were key elements that needed close scrutiny.

“In relation to redeployment, the Agreement provides new safeguards that will be backed up by a binding Commissioner's Determination, which will include SA Health,” the PSA told PSnews.

“The provisions will only come into effect if the majority of employees who vote support the Agreement, and following certification by the South Australian Industrial Relations Commission.”

Information sessions about the Agreement are being conducted in worksites during the ballot, with PSA Industrial Officers ready to field questions on any matters that require clarification.

The staff ballot on the proposed agreement is due to close on 12 November.

The Commissioner's explainer is available in PDF form, here.