PSA News – 4 June 2014
Bust the budget – Combined delegates meeting
The Abbott Government’s savage budget cuts not only include the GP co-payment, slashing spending on health and education, an attack on the pension and increased uni fees but reduces funding to the State Government.
In response, the NSW Government is now looking at ways to cut costs and that of course will mean targeting the public sector.
To discuss a collective response, a meeting of combined union delegates is being held on:
Thursday June 12 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
The Masonic Centre
66 Goulburn Street, Sydney
Senior Officers
The PSA will be meeting with Jo Grisard, Deputy Public Service Commissioner this week to discuss senior executive changes and issues arising from the senior officer equivalent determination.
The PSA has hundreds of members who may be impacted by these changes.
For further information please click HERE.
A survey will be sent to members in the coming weeks to identify critical areas of concern.
To read the media release regarding last week’s vindication of an SES whistleblower and how it highlighted PSA concerns over contracts click HERE.
Legislative Assembly Inquiry into Debt Recovery in NSW
On 16 May 2014, the PSA’s Research team provided a submission to the Legislative Assembly Legal Affairs Committee’s Inquiry into Debt Recovery in NSW.
The Research team relied heavily on the input, expertise and direction of delegates within the Office of the NSW Sheriff.
The Sheriff’s Officers Vocational Branch of the PSA (SOVBAG) provided unique insight into the debt recovery process.
The submission outlines the benefits of debt recovery remaining in public hands.
It also highlights the risk to the community if debt recovery is outsourced by the NSW Government to private corporations.
You can read the PSA’s submission HERE.
Hurstville move for Births and Marriages Registry death of city service
MEDIA RELEASE
The NSW Government’s announcement yesterday that the offices of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages will be moved to Hurstville in 2015 brings to an end more than 150 years of tradition in the Sydney CBD said the Public Service Association (PSA).
The move will severely impact upon the carer’s responsibilities and increase daily travel time for the 140 staff involved, some of whom live nowhere near Hurstville and make the journey to work each day from the Central Coast and Newport.
Official Govt secrecy over $14 billion cut to public services
An application by the PSA to uncover the truth behind the State Government’s plans to cut $14 billion over 6 years (budget papers 2011/2012) in spending on public services in NSW has again been rejected.
In July last year the PSA applied to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT – now known as the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal) for details of NSW Government plans to cut public sector jobs and services around the state.
The application was in response to a rejected GIPA (Government Information Public Access) request for access to Savings Roadmaps – documents drawn up by department heads outlining how each agency will meet its savings targets.
The Civil and Administrative Tribunal found in favour of the Government that Savings Roadmaps are Cabinet documents and as a result, do not have to be disclosed.
“The rejection of the PSA’s appeal is a disappointing outcome, indicating that the Government intends to operate with secrecy when it comes to decisions they are making on behalf of the community,” said PSA General Secretary Anne Gardiner.
“The NSW Government has denied the public access to information necessary for them to understand how public money is being spent.”
“The Baird Government has failed to produce any sort of plan for the future provision of public services in NSW.”
“The PSA will continue its efforts to hold the Government to account.”
Prison officer, community safety at risk from overcrowded prisons
MEDIA RELEASE
NSW prisons are struggling to cope with an inmate population boom, placing prison officer and community safety at risk, according to the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA).
Read more HERE
PSA Annual Conference 2014
Last week 180 members from across the state meet at PSA House in Sydney for the PSA’s Annual Conference, the biggest event on the union’s calendar each year.
Attendees were not disappointed.
The excellent guest speakers included Public Service Commissioner, Graeme Head, Janet Giles from the ACTU, CPSU-SPSF Federal Secretary, Karen Batt, Travers McLeod from the Centre for Policy Development and Mark Morey from Unions NSW.
The Sydney Trade Union Choir performed in typically rousing fashion and workshops were held on the PSA’s Which direction are we headed? campaign, Productivity, Superannuation and Unions NSW’s Jobs, Rights and Services campaign.
Photos from Annual Conference can be viewed on our Facebook page HERE.
