TAFE/DET Work Bans Proposed to Start Tuesday

Important Note

PLEASE NOTE this is an official PSA publication and is authorised by the General Secretary John Cahill.

You may have received correspondence from other persons - do not act on such information. Only the General Secretary or higher body can authorise bans or other industrial action.

Please circulate to all members and other colleagues, including print-out and circulate to those staff without computers.

The Union consistently reminded the previous Director General that we're "Not Happy Jan, and feel the 1,000+ jobs must stay".

With the arrival of the new DG, Mr Andrew Cappie-Wood, cultural change has become his key phrase. Let the DG demand cultural change in the treatment of staff and create cultural change by being transparent in the implementation process.

The Union has had extensive feedback from members across DET/TAFE and acknowledges their frustration in the lack of communication by the Department.

The Union is concerned that the Department has not implemented the restructure of its staffing as required by the Premier's Department Guidelines and continues to seek an answer as to fears raised about possible Occupational Health and Safety impacts of the restructure.

At a joint meeting of the Department, PSA officials and delegates this week, the PSA expressed grave concerns over the Departments lack of consultation with the Union regarding:

• Development of Statement of Duties and Job Evaluations prior to the direct appointments being made.
• Limited and inconsistent documentation and advice to employees from the Department and management.
• Increased incidents of bullying and harassment. It appears OH&S and EEO has been thrown out the window.

Therefore the Union has written an urgent letter to Peter Riordan, General Manager Personnel Services of the Department, expressing our serious concerns. A deadline for a reply from the Department has been set for 5pm Monday 16th February 2004.

If a satisfactory reply has not been received by the Union then members in DET/TAFE are directed to undertake the following work bans starting on Tuesday morning the 17th February at 9am:

• Ban on preparing and answering ministerial and DG correspondence.
• Redirection of phone calls to the DG's office by district offices and other affected areas.
• Ban on preparation of briefings for new directors, DG and minister.
• Bans on TAFE library fine collection.
• Ban on processing overpayments
• Absolute priority to SASS staffing over teaching staffing

Departmental enquiries on the restructure to State Coordinating Team
Tel: 1800 338 354
Fax: 1300 732 338
Email: statecoordinatingteam@det.nsw.edu.au

In addition contact your union, the PSA
Email: tafe-det@psa.asn.au marked
Att: PSA Organiser , Adela Lyle (DET) or Troy Wright (TAFE)

To get up-to-date authorised information subscribe to the PSA's TAFE/DET MAILING LIST at lcarr@psa.asn.au