PSA turns up the heat on education job and service cuts

Lifelong Learning 2

The PSA has told DET that it is totally opposed to the job cuts proposed in Lifelong Learning 2. What is even more concerning is that those areas affected were assured during the Lifelong Learning One consultation that they would not be affected. Management has admitted they don't even know what work is done by positions they've proposed to cut.

The PSA is committed to defending jobs and the services that our members provide to the NSW community. We have told DET that no cuts can be implemented until it has been established to the satisfaction of the PSA that the work has really gone, for example through new systems or automation.

Following work bans by PSA members, DET agreed to meaningful consultation on the second restructure plan. The PSA has had a number of meetings pointing out to DET the impact of the proposed cuts as information is provided by members of the affected areas, and we are compiling a formal response to DET.

Members are urged to forward as soon as possible their comments on the proposed cuts and the estimated impact that this will have on the work now done. Members are also advised to raise these issues with their managers, who are supposed to be providing feedback to DET.

Please send feedback to the PSA through tafe-det@psa.asn.au by Friday October 24.

Some of the cuts in Lifelong Learning 2 include:

Multicultural Programs Unit - 60% cut in staffing and a 75% cut to staff delivering multicultural programs from a number of units, including positions which are funded from special state program funds tied to the Multicultural Education Strategic Plan. The programs affected may include multicultural education support for schools and TAFE, support for English language programs for migrants and refugees, community liaison programs, the Racism: No Way! web support staff, Multicultural Access Centre and State Equity Centre.

Industry Training Service Centres - Are facing a loss of 25% across the state. ITSC are responsible for monitoring adult training programs, registered training organisations and apprenticeships and trainees, in part to make sure that training wages are not just a source of cheap labour for unscrupulous employers. The PSA is meeting with DET on October 21 to outline the impact of these cuts. The meeting was agreed following the implementation of work bans by PSA members in ITSCs.

Other State Training Services areas facing cuts - These areas are traditionally extremely overworked and will also be discussed with management

The Performing Arts Unit - Programs such as Debating and ARTEXPRESS, state camps and ensembles in Dance, Drama, Choral and Instrumental music which are performed at State, National and International levels, including the Schools Spectacular, are now all under threat.

Community Grants Program has been cut by 50%, including a number of Commonwealth funded positions. The programs maintained by the unit involve funding to 1,000 community organisations to provide services in early intervention to students with disabilities beginning school, community languages programs, young people at risk of dropping out of school, and Aboriginal employment programs. These programs will not be able to function with the remaining half of the positions, jeopardising important community services and government policies and election commitments.

Strategic Information and Reporting, Strategic Research and Skills Development and Workforce Policy Directorates - These areas have been decimated in the proposed structure with no rationale provided for how the range of services provided to the Department and government are now to be delivered.

TAFE Library Services OTEN - This area faces the deletion of 17 jobs even though the cuts were not flagged in Lifelong Learning 1 and 3 new positions been created at lower grades (in effect downgrading 3 of 17). These positions are required for statewide service delivery to TAFE campus libraries.

Educational Service Divisions - TAFE has proposed to slash the educational support staff in the ESDs (TAFE curriculum bodies) which have been renamed Industry Curriculum Centres in the new structure. PSA officers and members are meeting with the DDG TAFE about this and other centralised areas of TAFE, such as student administration.

School Staffing Unit - Significant cuts and restructuring have been proposed for the School staffing Unit, reversing the earlier gains of the PSA members successful campaign for more jobs in the area. PSA members at Blacktown State Office applied work bans in response to these cuts, which have now been lifted to allow DET to improve their proposal for this area.

Other PSA campaigning

In addition to meeting with DET and TAFE management, the PSA lobbied the ALP state conference on October 4, to reverse the job cuts and increase treasury funding to DET and TAFE, and this motion was passed by the conference.

The PSA is now following up with a meeting with Minister for Education and Training Andrew Refshauge on October 22, to press these issues.

The PSA is also organising delegations of members from affected areas to meet with their local MPs and encouraging all members and sectors of the community to write to their local paper, local MP and the Minister in protest at the proposed cuts.

Corporate Services Review and TAFE Institute structures

After meeting with the PSA, DET has agreed that no implementation of the final Lifelong Learning structure will commence until the Corporate Services Structure is finalised to the satisfaction of the union.

The PSA is pressing DET for a similar commitment not to implement new structures until the TAFE Institute structures are also finalised, so that TAFE members will not be disadvantaged. It is expected that some aspects of the Corporate Services Review will be released this week, with proposed structures to follow after a consultation period.

Another bulletin will follow soon, discussing the Corporate Services Review, negotiations on managing displaced employees, what to do about bullying, harassment and discrimination, and the situation facing long term temporary employees.

Your representatives

The PSA Restructure Working Party includes the chair and secretary of the TAFE, DET and schools advisory groups: -- Russell Hewitt (Southern Sydney Institute), Leon Parissi (Sydney Institute), Christopher White (Albury District Office), Phill Musgrave (Blacktown), Sue Walsh (Schools and also PSA President), and Linda Murray (Schools).

The PSA industrial staff include Greg Shaw, Sally McManus, Anne Kennelly and Steve Turner. (* Shane Jobberns and Jenny Long are on secondment as temporary organisers).

The PSA Restructure Steering Committee has been set up to oversee the PSA's campaign and includes delegates elected from the advisory groups for TAFE, DET, and schools plus industrial staff of the union.

Delegates include Robert Bone, Leon Parissi, Shane Jobberns (South Western Sydney Institute), Ross Amor (South Western Sydney Institute), Kate Lander (Illawarra Institute), Rhonda Phillis (OTEN), Ros Eveleigh (North Coast Institute), Bernadene Hunt (New England Institute) Neil Hopkins (North Coast Institute), Christopher White, Jenny Long, Phill Musgrave, Ros Hancock (Bathurst State Office), Annette Taylor (Lismore District Office), Brad Cormick (Shellharbour District Office), Bobbie Barker (Newcastle District Office), Bob Hately (Sydney ITSC), Sue Walsh and Linda Murray.

Also on the Steering Committee are the industrial staff above and the regional PSA organisers.