Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Campbelltown Office PSA meeting notice

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Campbelltown Office PSA meeting notice – February 2018 (PDF version)

Thursday 1 March 2018

1.00pm-2.00pm

Conference Room

Agenda

• Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)

• Early Appropriate Guilty Plea (EAGP) Reforms

• Flexible Working Hour Agreement

It’s time to get involved!

For more information contact the PSA on 1300 772 679.

Email: bmckenzie@psa.asn.au.

Parramatta Justice Precinct Legal Aid – PSA visit

Parramatta Justice Precinct Legal Aid – PSA visit – February 2018 (PDF version)

Tuesday 27 February 2018

12.30pm-2pm

PJP

Level 1 – Lunch Room

I will be visiting the PJP Legal Aid Lunch Room to discuss relevant issues and promote a Lunch and Learn at the PJP Precinct.

For more information contact the PSA on 1300 772 679.

Email: bmckenzie@psa.asn.au.

Your PSA Staff:

Monika Wunderlin – Industrial Officer

Bart McKenzie – Senior Organiser

To Join the PSA go to https://membership.psa.asn.au/register

It’s time to get involved!

Bulletin – Industrial Relations Commission update

Bulletin – Industrial Relations Commission update – February 2018 (PDF version)

The PSA was back in the Industrial Relations Commission on 20 February 2018 as part of the regular hearings. The PSA was represented by our lawyer, Michael Jaloussis, Guy Sim (SEAG), Danny Chundramun and Mark Christensen (COVB), Nicole Jess and Jason Charlton (POVB), Kylie McKelvie and Kathy Dwyer (NCDC), Julie Bond, David McCauley and Evan Cole (PSA Industrial staff).

Ring-fencing

After discussions with both parties, the Commissioner recommended Lithgow, Oberon, Kirkconnell and Bathurst should be ring-fenced together. Commissioner Newall’s reasons were that this gives the affected staff a greater opportunity to find a position. This is the same approach he adopted with the Long Bay complex.

Long Bay Hospital

POVB members at Long Bay Hospital imposed bans on acting up and overtime following the breakdown in negotiations over the application of the Safe Staffing Award and VORs. The cause of the problem is continued understaffing. The Commissioner recommended bans be lifted from the beginning of B Watch on 20 February 2018 to allow further consultation on staffing the hospitals. Nicole Jess will be attending the consultation on Friday, 23 February and we are hopeful of a resolution. Corrective Services has indicated it will convert casuals to permanent.

This and the planned CO classes going through the Academy may help the problem in the medium term, but the staff shortage is a problem now.

Any resolution must guarantee staff safety, and this was recognised by the Commission.

Kirkconnell

During the Benchmarking meeting held at Kirkconnell on 15 February 2018, there was discussion about whether Kirkconnell is a small or medium centre. The Commission supported CSNSW’s position that because Kirkconnell is minimum-security it qualifies as small. The branches will go back and talk with their members about this. If this remains unresolved, Commissioner Newall has agreed to visit Kirkconnell to listen to both sides of the argument and make a recommendation.

Parliamentary Committee into Benchmarking

Last week the Legislative Council Committee enquiry into Parklea was extended to include Benchmarking. The PSA believes Benchmarking should stop until the report is released and the Government has responded. We raised this with the Commissioner who unfortunately said it was beyond his power to order this. We will write to the Minister asking him to order a halt on benchmarking.

There is a report back on Friday, 2 March 2018.

PSA school visit – Mogo Public School

10km south of Batemans Bay, Mogo Public School is a small school that caters for 58 students through its many innovative educational programs and initiatives.

The PSA’s Tony Heathwood visited members Christine and Heidi at Mogo Public School recently.

http://www.mogo-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/home

ODPP member bulletin

ODPP member bulletin – February 2018 (PDF version)

As members will be aware, the Early Appropriate Guilty Plea Reforms are set to commence at the end of April. As such, the ODPP is making significant changes to its staffing structure. The PSA is committed to ensuring proper consultation on behalf of all members. To date, the PSA has received a considerable amount of member feedback on the ODPP proposal. The PSA has written to ODPP management with these concerns. You can access the PSA’s letter to the ODPP HERE.

The PSA will meet with management this week. Members will be updated as to the meeting outcomes as soon as possible. We continue to ask for your input and will continue visiting ODPP workplaces.

Finally, members should note that, if the need arises, the PSA will seek the assistance of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in relation to this restructure.

You can contact the PSA on 1300 772 679.

Your PSA Organiser is Bart McKenzie.

Your PSA Industrial Officer is Monika Wunderlin.

Salary maintenance win

Salary maintenance win – February 2018 (PDF version)

As previously circulated, the PSA has been negotiating with OEH in regards to a number of matters, including salary maintenance for members whose positions have been deleted, altered or moved and as a result have elected to apply for and gain a lower graded position. The PSA met with OEH Chief Executive Anthony Lean on 24 January to discuss this matter, and OEH followed up with written correspondence on 7 February that salary maintenance would only be applicable to staff who were directly assigned to a lower graded position, and not to those who participated in a competitive selection process. The PSA took the matter to the IRC on 7 and 12 February, maintaining the position that salary maintenance should be applicable to all staff who accept a lower graded position, regardless of whether they have been directly assigned or had participated in the competitive selection process.

The PSA received confirmation in writing from Mr Lean on 21 February that OEH had changed its position, and had agreed to pay three months’ salary maintenance to staff who are assigned to a role that is lower graded than the role they formerly held. Importantly, this includes circumstances where this arises from a competitive selection process during the internal recruitment phases.

OEH has confirmed this payment will apply to staff who transition to the new Future NPWS structure and do so by 30 June 2018.

This win from the PSA means that if you have applied for and gained a lower graded role than you formerly held, OEH will pay you three months’ salary maintenance at your previous salary. The PSA will take up any cases where members have been placed in a lower graded role and ensure they are paid as per the agreement above. To ensure you receive the salary maintenance, please email nbradshaw@psa.asn.au and include the following details:

1. Name;
2. Position that was affected;
3. Position that you were assigned into;
4. When you were/will be assigned.

Our patience ran out 12 months ago

The PSA has appeared in the IRC 14 times over industrial issues. We have held two meeting with the Minister for the Environment outlining our displeasure with the way the restructure has been implemented, as well as hold numerous public rallies which has driven our public campaign against the cuts to National Parks. The PSA doesn’t just talk about taking action, we do it.

Not a member, JOIN today to join the fight.