By
Rebecca Codey
A
pay rise of four per cent per annum over two-and-a-half years
has been proposed in the next ADF Workplace Remuneration Arrangement
(WRA), which is now ready for consultation.
The proposed cumulative pay rises of 10 per cent over the 30 months
of the WRA would begin on May 6, 2004, and applies to all salary
and salary-related allowances.
The proposed increments are:
2.5% on May 6, 2004, 4.0% on November 4, 2004, 2.0% on June 2,
2005, and 1.5% on March 9, 2006.
Assistant Director Industrial Policy, Directorate of Salary and
Allowances, Martin Kennedy said the overall outcome is broadly
comparable to the outcome being offered to civilian staff in the
Defence Employee Certified Agreement (DECA), although the timing
and size of the four increments differ.
Productivity improvements associated with the WRA and the DECA
include the continuation of the commitment to achieving Defence
White Paper targets, Results through People, organisational reform,
the introduction of Defence travel reforms and employee self service.
The WRA is more than simply a pay rise - it gives ADF members
a general indication of what the future holds for them.
“Basically the WRA sets the scene for the next few years,” Mr
Kennedy said. “It outlines the CDF and the Service Chiefs’ expectations
of what lies ahead across the whole ADF and what the organisation
intends to do in terms of remuneration to recognise increased
productivity, efficiency and personnel contribution to capability.
“It also explains how the ADF will maintain the whole package
in relation to how we sit within the wider Australian community
in terms of remuneration,” he said. “We must maintain competitiveness
because we need to attract and retain our people. “The WRA helps
do all of these things in a broad sense.”
The consultation draft of the WRA will be widely distributed throughout
the ADF for review and comment. “The main form of feedback we
receive and the avenue that has a very significant impact, is
through the chain of command,” Mr Kennedy said.
“This will not only provide a clear sense of what the leadership
thinks, but also the views of the people they command. It is part
of their leadership responsibility that the CDF and the Service
Chiefs take very seriously.”
In a bid to communicate with ADF members, to further explain the
Arrangement and answer any questions, the WRA team will conduct
national roadshows from late October to mid-November.
Feedback is also sought during the roadshows. Views on the WRA
can be expressed through the chain of command or directly to the
Directorate of Salary and Allowances at the address shown on the
Intranet web site.
The chain of command is scheduled to provide consolidated reports
of ADF members’ views of the proposed arrangement in late November
or early December. It is planned for the WRA to be presented to
the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal some time in the new year,
and to take effect on May 6, 2004.
Copies of the draft WRA will be available via the chain of command.
The document will also be available on the Defence Intranet through
a hotlink on the DEFWEB home page, via the Defence Personnel Executive
web site or by going directly to http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/dpedsa
Internet users can access the same information via www.defence.gov.au/dpe/dsa
Navy News will run full details of the
proposed Workplace Remuneration Arrangement (WRA) next edition.
