DADHC DISABILITY SERVICES 48 HOUR STRIKE

To All PSA Members Working in DADHC Disability Services: - Group Homes - Respite - CST's -Day Programmes - Large Residentials

This action was endorsed by general meetings of members held across the State recently.

The action is taken in response to proposals by the Department to cut staff across all service streams:

• Recent changes to rosters implemented by Regional Managers have left staff working in accommodation services vulnerable to serious occupational health and safety risks.
• Staff vacancies in Community Support teams and Day Programs together with recent decisions by the Department to not fund the filling of these positions are contributing to work overload issues.
• The Corporate and Regional Restructure has serious flaws that the Department has failed to address. The Department has not provided the resources promised to staff to support them in their new roles. Staff are also being bullied and harassed into performing duties outside of their role.

Further:
The Department's proposal in relation to Residential Support Worker Level 3 (RSW 3) positions, as detailed in its letter of 27 September 2004, completely undermines the agreement reached between the Association and the Department in October 2003. Agreement on the RSW 3 positions last year resulted in threatened industrial action being averted at that time and allowed the consultation process on the restructure to proceed. The recent proposal by the Department is to further cut the numbers of the more experienced and long serving staff working in group homes and respite services.

Attempts to date by the Association to resolve these issues in consultation with the Department have failed. The PSA has called upon the Department to:

• adhere to the agreement reached with the PSA on 1 October 2003 in relation to Level 3 RSW's;
• immediately conduct a comprehensive review, in consultation with the PSA, of the corporate and corporate and regional restructure implemented in March 2004;
• take immediate action to fill vacancies in CST's and day program to the staff establishment levels which existed prior to the cutbacks made in March 2004.

RALLY 16 NOVEMBER

It is crucial that all members attend the Rally to show their unity and protest the mismanagement of Government provided disability services.

Members from Sydney, Southern and Hunter regions along with parent groups are asked to attend this Rally.

Rallies are also being organised in some regional areas. Details of these will be provided to members shortly.

Members can obtain further information from their local PSA delegate or Organiser or contact Ayshe Lewis, Principal Industrial officer at the PSA on Phone: 9220 0968. The DADHC delegates are listed in our News Section.