On 6 September all PSA members working in schools across NSW were directed to BAN interaction with the School Administration and Management Marketplace.

The implementation of the School Administration and Management Marketplace has the potential to dramatically impact the workload of members.

On top of this, there was no consultation on the School Administration and Management Marketplace prior to it being announced to staff. Since the PSA placed the ban on interacting with the roll-out of the program, industrial staff and delegates have met once with relevant senior staff members from the department.

So far there has not been sufficient information provided to resolve the issues raised by members, including:

• increased workload (researching products, negotiating contracts, training staff in new systems)
• lack of support from the Department for technical issues or training
• schools having to select products from up to 12 different providers, making it even harder to find casual staff experienced in all programs and harder for staff to get work at other schools, thus exacerbating the existing staffing crisis
• the impact on school budgets.

PSA staff and delegates will meet again with the department on Monday 17 October 2022 to continue consultation.

Until consultation is completed, and the issues addressed, the ban remains in place.

We will report back to members next week following the meeting.

The ban covers all PSA members and means you must not:

1. Attend webinars or undertake any training on School Administration and Management Marketplace
2. Spend time reading Quick Reference Guides, FAQs or documentation designed to prepare you for the implementation of School Administration and Management Marketplace
3. Undertake any research into third party software to replace EBS4.

This ban has been brought on by delegates’ extreme frustration at the Department of Education implementing yet another system (or in this case, multiple systems) that has the potential to dramatically increase workloads, as well as the absence of consultation with your union prior to the announcement, training or roll out of the change.

Support your colleagues who are following bans

Remember that the PSA ban relates to the whole of a task and process.  This means that no member, no matter what classification they are, should pick up work that is the result of a colleague following the direction of their union.

If you are requested to take on the work, advise your principal that the work is currently the subject of an industrial ban, and you are unable to complete it.

Members are protected when following bans

Members are advised that:

1. This industrial action has been approved by the General Secretary of the Public Service Association of NSW
2. Any direction to perform work covered by these bans can be refused without personal risk.

Should members receive any type of threat for refusing to break the bans they should contact their local delegate or the PSA immediately.

If issues are raised with you about your compliance with the ban, provide your principal with a copy of this bulletin and politely explain that you have been directed by your union not to undertake this work.

Are your colleagues PSA members?

You can support the work of the PSA and your local delegates by asking your colleagues to JOIN their union.