SCHOOLS OFFER -- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NOTE: This document was sent to all schools a few days before the broadcast

Offer to School Assistants and Senior School Assistants, June 2004

BACKGROUND

School Administrative and Support (SAS) Staff comprise the following classifications:

Title	Role
School Assistant (5 year incremental scale)	May work in the school office, library, home economics, science or technical and industrial arts areas.
Senior School Assistant Level 1 - 4	Supervises School Assistants and is the school's financial manager. The Senior School Assistant's level is determined by the number of schools assistants supervised.
Other Classifications of SAS Staff·	Teachers Aide Special· Teachers Aide Ethnic Teacher's Aide Pre-School Aboriginal Education Assistant General Assistant

The offer is for School Assistants and Senior School Assistants only.

The full time hours of work for School Assistants and Senior School Assistants are 31.25 hpw - 40 weeks per year. There are many part-time workers.

The number of School Assistants in a school is determined by a strict formula, which is based on the number of students enrolled in the school.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question	Answer
Will my hours of work change if the offer is accepted?	No. Hours of work will remain exactly the same as they are now.
Will I have to take on additional duties?	No, the offer is based on existing duties.
Do we have work bans still in place?	No, except for cash flow budgeting work bans. Continue to work to rule (i.e. no unpaid overtime.)
If we accept the offer will I have to apply for my own job?	No, there will be direct appointment to all classifications.
I am a school assistant with a five-year salary scale. How will the increases apply to me?	You will get a 5.7% increase on your existing salary.
When do the increases apply?	1 July 2004
Is that all we will get?	No, School Assistants and Senior School Assistants will get further increases from the Salaries Award application the PSA has in the Industrial Relations Commission. The PSA hopes this increase to be determined by the end of the year. The current offer is part-settlement of the PSA's claim only. The PSA has reserved the right to pursue further improvements to the salary and career structure.
What about the staffing increases?	The casual staffing hours for data entry and GST and the extra hours allocated last year will be made permanent hours this year. There will be additional permanent staffing from 2005.
We expected a lot more. Why don't we turn down the offer and go for bigger increases?	If you vote NO to the offer it will be a very long time before the PSA will be able to get salary increases. Legal advice has been obtained and it is very doubtful that we would succeed with an application before the Industrial Relations Commission (apart from the Public Sector salaries application now before the IRC).
What about the other classifications of SAS staff not included in the offer?	We are continuing work to improve career structures for other classifications eg Teachers Aides Special.

NOTE: Questions can be faxed or e-mailed to Daryl Parmenter at the PSA - fax 02 962 1623 or dparmenter@psa.asn.au Include your name and school in the message.

Further information:
Media release on results of the Sky Channel meetings
Speeches presented via the Sky Channel broadcast - June 10
SAS Staff Review - DET's "without prejudice" offer