Union says: no more 'dirty tricks'

Date: 26 April 2000

The CPSU has demanded that Public Service chief Peter Shergold withdraw a Workplace Relations department training manual that provides 'unethical' bargaining advice to public sector managers. The training manual was produced by Workplace Partners, an in-house consulting arm of Peter Reith's Workplace Relations Department (EWRSB). The tactics detailed in the manual includes advice on how to;
'make false claims'
'pretend ignorance'
'appear irrational'
'act aggressively'
'inundate with information'
'associate the other party... with some unsavoury connection'
'use threats'
'stall for time'
'use biased statistical (mis)-information'

CPSU National Secretary, Wendy Caird, said "This manual is a clear breach of the Public Service Act which states that the Public Service will have "the highest ethical standards", and that public servants must "behave honestly and with integrity in the course of their APS employment."

"Over the last few years, APS management has tried to persuade staff that they don't need the professional support and advice of unions and that they should embrace more direct employer / employee relations. The exposure of the training manual has revealed the true nature of APS employers bargaining tactics and the lengths management will go to in negotiations to win at all costs. "

The CPSU will carefully analyse the training manual to ensure that CPSU staff, delegates and members involved in bargaining are able to recognise and expose these sorts of unethical practices.

Contact
Wendy Caird
02 9334 9200
0418 970 833

Letter from CPSU to Dr Peter Shergold Secretary DEWRSB Canberra

Dear Dr Shergold,

Public attention has again been focussed on the publication by your department of a manual which provides advice to employers on negotiation tactics. These tactics include many which run counter to any notion of positive workplace relations, or good faith bargaining.

This publication first caused public concern in February, yet it continues to be in circulation and presumably is still being used in management training.

The Australian Public Service is required to operate in accordance with defined values, which include "the highest ethical standards". Advice from your department which could be seen to encourage negotiators to "make false claims", "use threats", "use biased statistical (mis)-information", "act aggressively", etc is clearly contrary to these values and any notion of ethical standards.

I am writing to now formally seek your assurance that this material will be withdrawn. Further, since these practices have been circulated in a manual from your department, it is appropriate that you circulate advice making it clear that the government, through your department is opposed to such tactics.

Should your department consider it appropriate to publish replacement material on negotiating strategies, these should as a minimum comply with Public Service values and the requirements of the Workplace Relations Act on bargaining in good faith.

I look forward to your assurance that this material has been withdrawn, and agencies advised that such practices would not have the support of your department.

Yours sincerely

Wendy Caird
National Secretary

26 April 2000

For further information

Contact:	Dermott Browne
Union:	CPSU - National Office
Phone:	93349200

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