PSA Member meetings this week – Yennora and Eveleigh
PSA Organisers will be on-site at Yennora and Eveleigh this week to hold meetings with members regarding the recent announcement from the Transport Secretary of 950 positions being cut across TfNSW. You can view our latest bulletin with more detail HERE.
While consultation on the plan to cut 950 positions has not yet begun, and specific designs have not been shared with the PSA, we are holding meetings for members to discuss concerns and ask any questions you may have at this stage.
The meetings include a Teams link to allow those not at the worksite on those days to attend. The meetings will be held between 12:00pm – 1:00pm, with organisers on-site at the below locations from 11:00am.
Yennora
Date Tuesday 5 August – Yennora
Time 12:00pm–1:00pm
On-site location 129A-139 Orchardleigh St, Yennora – CR.B Building 1
Following the realignment announcement by Aboriginal Affairs NSW, please join your PSA senior industrial officer, organiser and delegates to discuss the proposed realignment and impact to staff.
This is an opportunity for members and non-members to meet with your PSA industrial staff and delegates, to learn about the role of the PSA in your workplace and discuss any issues.
The PSA is also seeking expressions of interest, from any member that is interested in becoming a workplace delegate for Aboriginal Affairs NSW. If you are interested, please contact Claudia to discuss.
If you know any non-members that would like to learn more about your union, invite them to attend.
Member’s Meeting Details
If you are onsite, please join us in person, or use the link below to join on Teams.
For those members who are unable to attend Thursdays’ meeting at Mascot or via teams please forward your feedback or concerns to or 1800772679. Please quote case no. C10008684
PSA meets with Transport Secretary around job cut announcement
The PSA met yesterday with Transport Secretary Josh Murray in regard to last week’s announcement to cut up to 950 Transport Senior Service Mangaers (TSSM) and Award positions to reach a “savings target”. Transport for NSW (TfNSW) went into further details about the “savings target” and what that is composed of. TfNSW confirmed that the overall savings target is $600 million, composed of:
Approximately $279 million from internal labour savings. It is this amount that TfNSW predicts will result in up to 950 positions being cut from TSSM and Award staff. TfNSW confirmed it is this dollar amount they need to reach, and not the specific target of 950 positions.
Approximately $54 million in savings can be made from workforce management. This includes managing excess leave, overtime and the deletion of vacancies.
Approximately $82 million in savings from reducing their external workforce, such as labour hire and contractors.
Approximately $100 million can be saved from reducing the number of senior executives. TfNSW confirmed they have cut approximately 200 senior executives, but there still remains approximately 1000 TSSE’s across Transport, which represents one in four senior executives across the entire Government Sector.
The above targets were reported verbally, and the PSA will await the specifics in writing.
TSSE cuts do not go far enough
Whilst TfNSW and the NSW Government crow that they have cut 200 Senior Executives already, the fact is there are still substantially more senior executives employed in Transport than any other Department. With over 1000 TSSE’s they have nearly three times the amount of senior executives within Health, despite having a quarter of Health’s workforce. The PSA continues to call on the NSW Government to stop their protection racket for senior executives, have a look at their numbers again, and if they need to make $279 million in internal labour savings, continue reducing the size of their Senior Executives to avoid job cuts for Award staff.
TfNSW need to minimise adverse effect on TSSM and Award employees
In addition to finding the savings through further reductions in TSSE’s, the PSA is calling on TfNSW to put an Expression of Interest out to all TSSM’s, regardless of their branch, in order to understand how much can be saved from those wishing to take up this “early exit”. This may go some way to minimising forced cuts to both Award and TSSM staff.
Huge amount of vacancies across TfNSW, but majority “unfunded”
TfNSW also confirmed yesterday that there were approximately 2700 vacancies across TfNSW, however 2,200 were “unfunded”, which means cutting these would not deliver “savings”. Of the 500 vacancies remaining, half again have been vacant for more than 12 months.
Further meetings next week
Mr Murray confirmed there would be a livestream for staff (held today – Friday 1 August) around his announcement. There is a further meeting scheduled for next week between TfNSW and the unions in which we seek to gain more details about the “planned process” for consulting on this major workplace change. The PSA will report back to members following this meeting.
The PSA raised a dispute with the department regarding their expectation of the Helpline and DV Line returning to the office ‘principally’. This would mean attending the Liverpool office, or a local Community Services Centres (CSC) if you are a regional Helpline Caseworker, at least 50 per cent of your shifts.
Following conciliation in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC), we have reached an agreed position to resolve the dispute.
The agreed positions are:
Helpline staff working 8-hour shifts will attend the workplace 2 out of 5 shifts.
Helpline staff working 10-hour shifts will attend the office 3 out of 8 shifts.
Helpline staff working part time hours will attend the office in similar patterns, as discussed with their manager.
Regional employees will have arrangements as per their individual circumstances
DCJ has advised they are currently working through the provision of IT equipment
Helpline staff requiring ergonomic assessment and equipment will have updated assessments.
Infrastructure and Assets are renovating the kitchen on level 4. A smaller kitchen will be available on level 4.
We encourage members to seek individual or team based flexible working plans, as per DCJ’s Flexible Working Work Policy.
We have been advised that there is often a crossover between the Flexible Working Policy and Workplace Adjustment Policy (Passport). They are different policies for distinctly different purposes.
The Passport is for employees with non-work related injuries, disabilities, carers responsibilities or similar grounds for workplace adjustments. The Passport is for reasonable adjustments including ergonomic, start/finish times, job share, part time arrangements as well as possible work from home.
The Flexible Working Policy is for team and individual based flexible working plans including remote working from other DCJ Offices, from home, as well as sharing the spread of office attendance within the team. If you feel you have a valid workplace adjustment requirement, that is not being considered separate to the Flexible Working Policy, you can contact the PSA for advice and assistance.
Rural Fire Service Tamworth Member meeting with PSA president Nicole Jess
You are Invited: member meeting at Rural Fire Service Tamworth North West Area Command.
PSA President Nicole Jess and PSA representatives will be at Rural Fire Service Tamworth on Tuesday 5 August for an all-member meeting. PSA is here to support and listen to your concerns. We would really love to hear your thoughts and feedback, which will let us know the changes and assistance you need.
We will bring the afternoon tea and you bring your voice as your voice matters!
The PSA invites all members working at Rural Fire Service Tamworth to join us for afternoon tea.
Come and connect with PSA President Nicole Jess and PSA Organisers on Tuesday 5 August.
Details
Date Tuesday 5 August 2025
Time 2.30pm–3.30pm
Location Rural Fire Service Tamworth North West Area Command
Meeting agenda:
Workplace issues
Benefits of the union
What you can do
We are looking forward to seeing you there and having great conversations over afternoon tea
Bring a colleague! Know someone who isn’t a union member yet? This is the perfect chance to show them the value of being part of our union community.
Reconstruction Authority Vocational Advisory Group – first meeting update
The Reconstruction Authority Vocational Advisory Group (VG) delegates met for the first time on Tuesday 29 July at PSA House where they participated in training to support them in their new roles and began important discussions on key issues raised by members, including loss of flex hours while deployed and the inconsistency of payment of overtime for some teams and not others.
These are critical matters that the PSA will continue to pursue on your behalf.
At this meeting, the VG elected their committee, and the PSA is pleased to introduce your delegates, who will represent your voice going forward.
Chair Lani MCNeill and Women’s Contact Officer
Lani McNeill is the Manager, Social Recovery Coordination within Preparedness and Recovery Branch and has recently joined the PSA Delegates team as the Women’s Contact Officer.
Lani is committed to representing PSA members during her term as Chair of the VG and holds a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours and has been with NSW Reconstruction Authority and its predecessor agencies for 6 years, coordinating recovery efforts across numerous catastrophic events.
Lani has previously worked across non-government and government agencies in a range of fields including family assistance; out of home care for children and young people; acute mental health; chronic disease and supporting end of life care planning in both hospital and out-patient settings. “Our staff support NSW communities in their most challenging times and I am committed to ensuring our staff feel supported and valued throughout their employment”.
Vice Chair Pete Christie
Pete Christie is a Senior Coordination Officer in the North Coast Regional Delivery Team. He has been a PSA Delegate for five years, and a PSA Member for 20 years.
Pete worked in Community-based Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation prior to coming over to the NSW Government in 2005 working in Child Protection in 2008 he moved into Inner City Homelessness and Out of Home Care funding and program reform and undertook the additional duties as District Welfare Services Functional Area Coordinator in 2012. He has been with the NSW Reconstruction Authority and its predecessor agencies since 2016 working in State Disaster Welfare and Regional Delivery. Pete holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Post Graduate Diploma in Social Health (Psychology), as well as other qualifications.
Secretary Peter Cross
Peter Cross is a Coordinator in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South-East team, starting in line with the emergence of Resilience NSW in 2021. He has followed a less traditional path into the Disaster preparedness and recovery space, combining under and post graduate study with a love for outdoor adventure and travel; working with young people in education and youth at risk, as well as community development for 20 years in Australia and overseas. “I encourage all PSA members to contact any one of the four RA delegates for confidential support, advice and resolution assistance with any issue relating to your employment with the Reconstruction Authority. To ensure fairness and create change we have to be brave and not be silent”.
Assistant Secretary Adam Tran
Adam Tran is the Manager, Strategy, in the Hazard, Risk and Data Assurance Branch. He has been a PSA Delegate for over 10 years, and a PSA member for over 23 years. Adam worked in Youth Justice for over 13 years, in counselling, casework, project and policy roles. He has been at the NSW Reconstruction Authority and its predecessor agencies for over 16 years, working in Recovery, Disaster Funding and Risk/Strategy roles. Adam has a Master of Social Work (International Social Development), well as a range of other qualifications.
Taronga Conservation Society Australia- Dubbo and Sydney – members meeting notice
Your PSA Organiser, Industrial Officer and delegates, will be onsite at Taronga Sydney, for a lunchtime members’ meeting to discuss the upcoming “transition to pay in arrears” and how your union can best support the membership during the process.
Rebecca Edwards, Divisional Director, People Culture and Safety, will in attendance at the beginning of the meeting to do an update on the upcoming changes.
This is also an opportunity for members and non-members to meet with your PSA industrial team and workplace delegates to learn about the role and support of the PSA in your workplace.
Members are encouraged to send any agenda items that they would like discussed to
If you know any non-member that would like to learn more about your union, invite them to attend.
Meeting Details
If you are onsite in Sydney, please join us in person or use the link below to join on Teams.
ConnectAbility statewide member meeting – roster cycle changes
The CPSU NSW is aware of recent communication from ConnectAbility regarding the transition from a 4-week to a fortnightly roster cycle in the Community Living business unit. This proposed change must be subject to consultation with the Union.
To ensure your voice is heard, we have scheduled two online meetings via Microsoft Teams for all ConnectAbility members.
Share concerns and feedback about employer communications
Ask questions about your rights under the SCHADS Award
Understand the consultation requirements for changes to rosters, work locations, and contracted hours
Connect with your Union representatives and each other.
This is a members-only meeting, but if your colleagues are not yet members, please invite them to join the Union and attend: https://membership.psa.asn.au/join/
If you’re unable to attend either session, feel free to email your feedback or questions to the contacts below.
TAFE operating model phase 2 – consultation started
The CPSU NSW is seeking feedback from members in relation to the proposed Operating Model Phase 2 by TAFE NSW.
We want to hear your concerns and suggestions around the proposal and invite you to meet with us online on Monday 4 August 2025 at 12:oopm.
Union staff have been provided with the relevant documentation, including current and proposed organisational charts and information about impacted roles.
The CPSU NSW is aware that the following sections are affected:
People Group
Procurement
Product and Quality
Strategic Asset Planning
TAFE Digital
The mapping threshold to new positions will be:
60 per cent for all TAFE worker positions
80 per cent for all TAFE manager positions.
Employees who do not map to future state positions in steps 1 and 2 will have the opportunity to apply for positions at step 3 of the placement process (at the same* and/or below grade), prior to any external advertising of positions.
Placement will begin within the approximate timeframe of September–October 2025.
Impacted employees have access to the government’s Workforce Mobility Placement Policy which can be viewd HERE. The CPSU NSW is paying close attention to the process to ensure TAFE NSW meets its obligations in accordance with the policy, to prioritise retention, firstly at TAFE NSW and then, across the broader public sector.
Consultation with impacted employees during the placement process, should recognise individual needs and career aspirations of impacted employees.
TAFE Feedback and consultation is now open and closes end of business Friday 6 August. You can submit feedback via the link found HERE, or via the QR code provided in their documents.
Feedback and consultation through the CPSU NSW should be done through your local or regional delegate or at the meeting on Monday 4 August.
If you are unsure who your delegate is, please follow this link HERE.
If you are not able to attend the meeting and you have concerns you would like to raise or if you would like us to submit feedback on your behalf, please send it through to .
Your senior industrial officer Lisa Nelson and organiser, Michael George will be at your TAFE campus! Come and have a chat about the role of your union in your workplace, as well as attend our member meeting.
Everyone is welcome!
Your union recognises and appreciates your dedication and hard work, and we are eager to meet you and hear from you.
Did you know your union also offers you:
Free emergency ambulance cover
Free Journey Insurance
Substantial shopping discounts
legal services and many other benefits
Meeting details
Date Wednesday 6 August 2025 Time from 1:00pm Location TAFE Bathurst
Like to meet? – contact me at to arrange a time to meet.
Stronger together! The CPSU NSW has 125 years of proud history, and you stand on the shoulders of 40,000 members who know we are stronger together.
Community and Public Sector Union (NSW Branch)
What can you do to help?
Give a copy of this bulletin to your colleagues.
Print this bulletin and put it up on your notice board.
Ask a colleague to join the CPSU NSW
Get involved as your area contact
Become a CPSU delegate
4% Pay Rise with Your New and Improved Enterprise Agreement
Congratulations, the TAFE Commission of NSW Administrative, Support and Related Employees Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 has been approved by the Fair Work Commission.
From 1 August 2025 your new Enterprise Agreement (EA) will come into effect.
What this means for you
The approved agreement comes with significant improvements which have been won across the board for all TAFE Administrative, Support and Related employees, such as:
Pay
he new EA will give TAFE NSW Staff a 4 per cent salary increase for 2024 back paid to the first full pay period on or after 18 September 2024, paid to you this Thursday 31 July 2025.
With two further pay increases of 3 per cent automatically added to your pay on the 18September, in 2025 and 2026 respectively. TAFE Staff will be receiving a 10 per cent pay rise in total over the next 2 years, including your super guarantee raise.
Your new EA has a nominal expiration date of 18 September 2027. A Guarantee of three years’ worth of pay rise for you, on time, for the next two Septembers.
Disability Assistant Conversion
A significant update and win we have achieved in the upcoming EA, is that Disability Assistant (DA) workers in TAFE NSW are able to convert to permanent employees. This is a important win as previously; Disability Assistants could only be casual employees of TAFE NSW.
If you are a DA, or know a DA please get in contact with the CPSU NSW for assistance in your conversion to a permanent employee.
Re-written Flex Time Clause
We have strived to achieve a more favourable flex time clause, to allow for greater flexibility at work and easier interpretation of the Enterprise Agreement clause. Our goal is to increase the opportunity for flexible work.
Your PSA organiser, Alex Sala, and industrial officer Monika Wunderlin will be holding a statewide Trustee and Guardian member meeting on Wednesday 13 August 2025 from 12:45 to 13.30 to discuss any issues or concerns and strengthen our collective voice.
Please come along and take advantage of this excellent opportunity for all of us to connect!
Open Discussion:
This is your chance to raise any issues you are facing at work with the union. We value your input and want to ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
