Welcome back after your vacation. It was good to catch up with so many of you at the conferences on the first day of term.
Unfortunately, those of you working in administration have come back to a WBSIO solution which still has many problems. We have been receiving your feedback from our delegates.
The PSA has advised the Department of Education that we are now in dispute with them regarding this solution and related problems. We know this is causing many of you work overload, stress and anxiety. The Department sending out instructions that are confusing, insulting and contradictory do not solve the problems.
We have given the Department until this Friday (9 August) to respond. We have asked the Department to commit to maintaining proper support for the system while it reviews the solution, or to stop its implementation.
Should this commitment and the others we require not be received by Friday the PSA will lodge a dispute in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).
Pay Equity The PSA has held two conciliation conferences in the IRC. We have hearing dates set down for October and November of this year and are hoping to have a decision by the end of the year.
Permanency for temporary staff The union is aware that many staff who work in schools are long-term temporary staff. There are people in all classifications particularly Business Managers and School Learning Support Officers. We continue to work to push the Department to create permanent positions for members in these positions.
It is not acceptable that a Department the size of Education will not commit to make staff permanent. Pushing this responsibility back to the schools and their budgets is simply an easy excuse and is not showing the qualities of a good and responsible employer.
Do you know someone who is not a member? Ask them to JOIN the PSA.