PSA delegates: your rights
Delegates have a legal right to carry out union responsibilities in the workplace.
Depending on the workplace, these duties include:
- a range of activities that can be considered being on duty, such as distributing official PSA material or attending induction sessions for new employees
- time to attend and prepare for meetings in the workplace
- access to facilities such as notice boards, telephones and email in the workplace
- leave to attend union training, participate in committees or to attend industrial proceedings.
Delegates are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the full details of their rights in their award or enterprise agreement.
For delegates in the bulk of NSW public service agencies these rights are set out in clauses 53–64 of the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award 2009.
Support from the union office
PSA organisers are able to assist in arranging meetings with members, recruiting new members and providing the resources and material that will enable the building of union strength in the workplace.
Delegates have access to a range of trade union training provided by the PSA. These courses include ‘understanding the role of the delegate’, ‘improving negotiating skills’ and ‘dealing with bullying in the workplace’. The full list of training courses available is on the PSA website.
If assistance is required with an industrial matter, please call the PSA’s dedicated Member Support Centre on 1300 772 679.