A decision last year by the SMU to deduct an annual leave day for each public holiday falling during annual leave has finally been reversed after strong PSA pressure.
Management have finally agreed to return to the previous rule, where public holidays during annual leave are granted free of duty. Annual Leave already incorrectly deducted under these circumstances since the change will now be re-credited. This shows the importance of your union. Without the PSA, your employer would have been able to get away with depriving you all of several annual leave days every year.
The PSA has notified the Industrial Relations Commission of an industrial dispute based on non-compliance with the meal break provisions in the Police Administrative Officers Award. Police are attempting to get out of negotiating a payment in lieu of a 30-minute meal break by asserting that they can relieve every staff member for a half hour meal break each shift – which is clearly impossible. We are seeking a direction from the Commission that Police negotiate a payment.
We need members to stay united behind our claim while the matter proceeds in the Industrial Relations Commission.
If you want more information on the dispute, joining the PSA or getting more involved, contact the MSC, on 1300772679 – or contact your organiser Marko Petrovic at