Special Case -- General Assistants in Schools

General Assistants in Schools have an award claim before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

The General Assistants have been withdrawn from the "Public Sector Salaries Award" so that they can pursue their own award.

The Public Employment Office will support an interim award for 1997 of 1% backdated to January 1 and 3% from July 1. That is, they get the first year of the Public Sector Salaries Award.

Their case will be heard in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The case will be arbitrated as the Department of School Education does not agree with our claim.

We believe they have a very good case based on their increased workload due to cuts to GA numbers and withdrawal of Public Works Employees from regular school duties.