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 Home Campaign Bulletins Schools
SAS Staff News, December 1818 December 2006
30 November 2006Thank you to all PSA Members who attended the Your Rights at Work Rallies and Sky Channel Broadcasts. It was a good turn out and shows our commitment to protecting the rights of families and working people.All SAS Staff were entitled to attend the rally and be paid as long as they made arrangements with the principal about the time. Given the time of the year most staff would not have a problem making up the hours. If you have not been paid for that time please contact the PSA and we will assist you to have this corrected. School Support Officer PositionsFollowing members concerns about problems associated with the School Support Officer positions, the Schools Departmental Committee had lengthy discussions relating to the issue.Members would be aware that the PSA's initial position was to create a grade one position in all schools. This was decided during the notorious four year work review. As part settlement of the review, the department offered $8m to implement grade one positions. Clearly, this amount was not sufficient to fund the PSA's position. However, so as not to "lose" the $8m, the PSA entered into negotiations that resulted in the current situation:
Problems identified include the role of the school support officer and the Statement of Duty not being adhered to. This has resulted in the Grade 1 School Support Officer doing the same work as the Grade 2 School Administrative Officer but being paid a lower rate of pay. The position also causes problems with the Staffing Operation Procedures. Currently, if there is an anticipated reduction in student enrolments it is clear which staff member would be affected. In the majority of cases it is the School Administrative Officer because the Staffing Operation Procedure does not recognise the School Support Officer position. Therefore a School Administrative Officer who has worked in a school for many years would have hours reduced while a School Support Officer who has been employed for 6 months would not be affected. This clearly is an anomaly. Further, if the School Support Officer position was affected by a reduction in hours the position could be eliminated because the allocation is minimal. To address all of the above the PSA has proposed that the School Support Officer positions be converted to School Administrative Officer positions. This means that people currently working as School Support Officers will continue to receive the same salary but will work less time. Grade 1 SSO will remain as part of the award and when the department funds these positions appropriately the PSA will re-negotiate the implementation. The Association will meet with the Department of Education and Training in January to progress the conversion. It is the aim of the PSA to have NO member disadvantaged as a result of this process. Please do not use the DET email system to air concerns and comments. You can contact the PSA directly for accurate information and advice. Permanency for General AssistantsThe PSA has negotiated, with DET, permanency for long-term temporary General Assistants. There are 566 General Assistants who have been long-term temporary employees for over three years and in some cases for well over a decade.Teachers Aides The Department has now agreed to make these GAs permanent. To be eligible for permanent appointment GAs must meet certain criteria. The DET and the PSA will continue discussions on a process for eligible GAs to be appointed permanently as soon as possible. General Assistants leave in DecemberGeneral Assistants are employed under a different Award to other SAS Staff. They are entitled to a half day on Friday 22 December and to the Public Service Holiday on Wednesday 27 December.Dealing with visiting contractors and maintenance companiesGeneral Assistants currently perform a range of tasks liaising and oversighting the work of contractors. This is not the role of General Assistants.All School Administrative and Support Staff are reminded that they should not sign any document that verifies the quality of work performed by contractors at school. GAs are neither paid nor authorised to do so. Job Coaches/In Class TutorsThese positions are now in a number of schools. They are funded by Commonwealth grants. These positions are paid as SASS positions but the staff are not required to comply with the same statements of duties. They are sometimes left to supervise students and appear to have different responsibilities to other SAS Staff such as Teachers Aides.If you are a Job Coach or an In Class Tutor you can join the PSA and we can assist you to ensure your employment conditions are clarified with the Department. You can join online at www.psa.labor.net.au or by phoning 9290 1555 or Free Call 1800 467 932 and asking for an application form. If you would like more information please call these same numbers. The Schools Team would like to wish you and your family the compliments of the season. We hope you have a relaxing and safe break. Sue Walsh, President Kris Cruden, Senior Industrial Officer Caroline Staples, Industrial Officer
Contact Details Caroline Staples, Industrial Officer Ph: 02 9290 1555 Fax: 02 9262 1623  
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