“A small fire on the platform of the crane very quickly became an uncontrollable inferno. On the site below steel fixers continued to work. Workers from the site said they were instructed by their supervisor not to stop work. There was no evidence of an emergency system in place – no audible alert or siren and no evidence of an organised evacuation. Workers continued to stay on site even as fire brigade and emergency services arrived. It was truly horrifying.”
Dissent at the University of Western Sydney has reached new heights with students and academics affected by course and staff changes engaged in an ongoing protest.
I had the chance to attend the launch of some real research into what our Tafe System of public education is giving to us today and it is a worry that there is no relevant research being produced by the State Goverments in Australia who are now in the process of demolishing them by brutal cuts in Victory, NSW, & Queensland. Valuing Skills
"Funding for TAFE has been substantially reduced
despite their obligation to contribute to these social and economic objectives, while also acting as
custodians for the provision of quality vocational education. If higher levels of funding and a more
sustainable funding model for TAFE is not found, then the there is a very high likelihood that public
confidence in the entire system of vocational qualifications will be fatally eroded."
Last Friday we all received the follow email from Anne Dwyer stating that:
Colleagues,
I refer to the previous announcement to staff regarding
Christmas leave (HR Director, 21 Sept)
which advised the University would close on 24th December and re-open on
the 31st December. This decision was taken
to optimise the break period for staff when combining the public holidays and the 3 University
closure days and resulted in an uninterrupted break of 9 days.
As a courtesy, the University contacted both the CPSU and
the NTEU to inform them of the changed arrangements for Christmas
close-down. I am advised that the CSPU,
on behalf of its members, responded in support of this action.
The NTEU, however, held a different view and informed the
University of a dispute in relation to the close-down arrangements. The NTEU position is that the University
should open on 24 December and close until 31st December, which provides a
continuous closure period of 8 days. The
University had hoped the NTEU would be more flexible and prepared to consider
alternative arrangements. Regrettably
that has not been the case and the University does not wish to expend further
resources disputing the matter.
Accordingly, the University will amend the arrangements
as follows:
Monday 24 December - University open (staff may take
leave)
Tuesday 25 December - Tuesday 1 January (inclusive)- University closed
Staff who have leave already approved over this period or
who have already applied to take 31 December as a leave day will not be
required to resubmit a leave application as the system will make the adjustment
automatically.
Staff who are planning their leave arrangements, but have
not yet submitted their leave request will need to be mindful of the changed
arrangements set out above.
Attached is a copy of the posters pulled down three times by persons unknown.
The posters were only put on notice boards not on walls or doors.
Staff were verbally instructed that the meeting was not sanctioned or authorised (pretty much telling people they couldn't attend a union information session/seminar in their own lunch break.
In addition to the posters being repeatedly pulled down there are reports that flyers were removed from peoples pigeon holes.
At the meeting there was an agreement to move forward with our anti bullying campaign by using a number of measures including:
• General Anti Bullying posters at all workplaces.
• "Speak Out" posters encouraging bystanders to report and speak out against bullying they see happening in the workplace
• Staff Workplace pledges to eradicate bullying
• Campaigning for UTS to sign the workplace dignity and respect charter
• Continuation of Anti Bullying seminars to change the ingrained culture of bullying apparent in some sections and further inform staff of their right to come to work without fear of being bullied and harassed.
The CPSU remains committed to informing staff how to identify, survive and eliminate workplace bullying and harassment.
TAFE cuts will affect everyone: state governments should think again
By Leesa Wheelahan, University of Melbourne
TAFE staff are striking today to demonstrate their opposition to unparalleled funding cutbacks totalling almost $300 million imposed by the Victorian State Government. A recent leaked cabinet paper summarising so called “TAFE transition plans” has incited outrage. The plans show that campuses will close, TAFE institutes will merge, at least two thousand staff will be sacked, students will pay higher fees and TAFE institutes will cut provision or close down courses.
The Commonwealth government is now threatening to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for vocational education and training.
However, the Victorian government is not alone. The New South Wales government is cutting $80 million and 800 teaching jobs from TAFE, while increasing student fees by 9.5%. A Queensland government review of vocational education and training recommends closing 38 TAFE campuses and the Queensland government has cut $78.8 million from training, tertiary education and employment.
These state governments have failed to appreciate how important TAFE is to our economy and the community more generally. To them the vital work TAFE does is invisible.
But while TAFE’s effect might not be visible to politicians, it is an essential economic, social and cultural support for Australian communities and regions. Without strong TAFEs, there could be serious changes to our social cohesion and economic future.
The benefits of TAFE
TAFEs are often one of the biggest employers in regional or outer metropolitan areas and a focus for the community.
All TAFE directors in Australia will be on their local regional economic development committee and work together with local government and industry leaders to identify economic problems and skill requirements.
All TAFEs have staff working with schools to support better outcomes for students, and they work with local communities to develop programs and support for disadvantaged students. They provide pathways to higher education and to the professions, and in doing so, support Australia’s need for highly educated workforce and social mobility. They run courses that meet local economic or social needs even when it isn’t good business sense to do so.
Perhaps the least visible aspect of the work of TAFEs is how they anticipate the knowledge and skills that will be needed to support innovation. Just as universities create new knowledge for society and train the professions, TAFE’s role as an educational and training institution is to anticipate how workplaces are changing, and the kind of knowledge and skills that will be needed for tomorrow and not just today.
Every Australian has benefited from the contribution TAFE has made to economic development and social inclusion. Cutting TAFE is akin to a farmer eating rather than planting their seeds. We are cutting now rather than investing in the future.
Can universities take over?
Universities and TAFE play complementary roles, but whereas the role that universities play is well understood, TAFE’s role is not. Without TAFE, new knowledge that is generated in universities will not be translated into new work practices.
Universities can never take over the space vacated by TAFE, even if they wanted to. Universities might offer more “middle level” programs, such as diplomas and associate degrees, but they can’t offer the range of programs that TAFE offers at all skill levels. They also don’t have the same links with workplaces that TAFEs have, nor do they have the same geographic reach of TAFE.
There are hundreds of TAFE campuses in Australia in cities and regional and rural areas, which is the very reason many universities want to partner with TAFE institutes. Closing TAFE campuses in regions will reduce access to vocational and higher education.
Political will
The problem is that state governments don’t understand the invisible role TAFE plays. Instead, they are mesmerised by the invisible hand of the market and think it will all turn out in the end: it won’t and we will all be the poorer for it.
TAFE is far more than a “provider” of courses that is interchangeable with private providers. It is an educational institution that contributes to economic, social and cultural development, which private for profit providers can never replicate. This piece was co-authored by Brendan Sheehan, a Melbourne policy consultant and former Skills Victoria executive. He publishes The Scan which reports on developments in tertiary education in Australia. Leesa Wheelahan does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations.
This article was originally published at The Conversation.
Read the original article.
In what i feel to be already tough times for us workers its nice to know the State Premier of NSW cares so much about removing even more benefits from workers in the State.
The O'Farrell government yesterday confirmed it had applied to the NSW Industrial Commission this week to change 98 awards for public sector workers, including 1000 nurses who assist people with disabilities and those in aged-care facilities.
Clerical staff, librarians, parks and gardens staff, school administration assistants, regulatory inspectors and legal officers are also among those set to lose their entitlement to long-held conditions, including an annual leave loading of 17.5 per cent.
The PSA
Executive today authorised a stop work meeting of members to brief members on
the attacks on wages, jobs and conditions by the O’Farrell Government, on what
the PSA is doing and what more we plan to do.
Since coming
to office the Government has:
·Imposed a cap on pay
rises, including passing legislation limiting the role of the industrial
umpire, NSW Industrial Relations Commission. This latter part has been
challenged in the High Court by the PSA. The hearing is on September 5.
·Ordered agencies to cut
jobs – 5,000 were ordered in their first budget, and 10,000 jobs in the latest
budget (based on a 1.2% cut in labour costs). Cuts across the service are being
announced on a regular drip-feed of information.
·Lodged a claim in the NSW
Industrial Relations Commission to cut conditions and allowances, some of which
will affect all members and others will unfairly impact on groups of members.
(see PSA website at http://www.psa.labor.net.au)
·And today they have told
the PSA and the Commission that they will be lodging awards to strip another
hundred public sector conditions awards. This will include awards covering
other unions as well as the other PSA conditions awards.
We have
resisted each attack as it arose and we now want to step up our efforts.
The
authorised stop work on October 8 will be from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm, and for
longer where travel time necessitates.
The main
meeting will be at Sydney Town Hall, in the lower town hall, and the address
from officials will be webcast to 30-40 other meeting venues around the state.
Members who
attend these meetings will be able to vote on a resolution concerning future
actions designed to protect jobs, conditions and wage-setting practices.
The PSA
Executive has authorised all members covered by State Awards and Agreements to
stop work on October 8 and attend a stop work meeting. (Members covered by the
federal industrial system are invited but are not being directed to stop work.)
MEMBERS & DELEGATES
TRAINING at PSA House, 160 Clarence St, Sydney (near Town Hall Station)
Fri
Aug
10
Negotiation Skills
Fri
Aug
24
Work Health Safety & Injury Management
Tues
Aug
28
Dealing with Bullying in the Workplace
Mon-Tues
Sept
03-04
Role of the Delegate
Fri
Sept
21
Meeting Skills
Tues
Oct
09
Dealing with Bullying in the Workplace
Tues
Oct
23
Work Health Safety & Injury Management
Mon-Tues
Oct
22-23
Women in the Union
Fri
Oct
26
Negotiation Skills
These courses are free of
charge for our members. Certificates of attendance and completion are issued to
participants.
All participants are responsible for their own accommodation and travel
expenses.
Attached is the application form and a short description sheet.
CPSU members at a protest rally in Sydney, in 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Did you receive your incremental progression?
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY
SUPPORT STAFF AGREEMENT
2010:
"21.5 Progression to a higher level shall be available only when the staff member‟s supervisor certifies that: (a) the competency requirements for progression established for the occupational group and/or work unit are satisfied by the incumbent (b) that the quality of work performed by the staff member is consistent with work required of the higher level and the position description, and (c) there is work consistently available at the higher level. 21.6 Where progression to a higher level is not approved the affected staff member will be provided with written feedback by the supervisor, including the reason why progression is not approved."
A short thank you from a member who was acting on behalf of themselves and their work area staff to ensure they all received their incremental progression.
"Dear Delegates and Industrial staff,
Thank
you for all your hard work – it is much appreciated.
It
looks like this is a total victory for CPSU.
At
around 10:30am, the Manager called a meeting and advised everyone about the
fact that University was going to fix the incremental issue which affected most --- staff and some --- staff.
---- said that --- should’ve advised everyone earlier, but he had been trying to get
HR to fix the problem all along (!)
-- said -- will make sure that no one will be disadvantaged and all the affected
staff including those in other parts of --- will get their increment sorted.
I
could see that the Manager wanted to save the University’s and his face and
made it seem that it was not because of the CPSU pressure that they are now
fixing the problem.
I
told the Manager in front of everyone that the whole thing was very poorly
handled and that the University had breached the Enterprise Agreement by
reversing my increment without consultation
and
that there should’ve been more communication.
And
I asked when the problem will be fixed now. Looks like it will be fixed for
next pay.
Will
keep you updated once the matter is finalised.
In
the meantime, I’ve spoken to more staff in ---- about what CPSU can do for
them. It’s a slow process, but the CPSU influence is spreading.
The NSW Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat, today reported
that all ten NSW universities achieved operating surpluses in 2011, with the
University of NSW achieving the highest surplus of $88.9 million followed by
the University of Sydney with $88.5million.
“In 2010, only eight universities achieved surpluses, so I am
pleased to see a surplus for all ten universities in NSW,” said Mr
Achterstraat. “There has also been an improvement in the achievement of
government financial performance benchmarks. Four NSW universities achieved all
four benchmarks, compared to two last year.”
The Auditor-General noted that universities continue to face
funding challenges for employee long service leave and annual leave
obligations. Universities had long service leave obligations of $571 million,
an increase of 23 per cent on last year.
“While most universities are reducing excess annual leave
balances, managing leave is a continual challenge,” said Mr Achterstraat. “High
levels of unused leave are a red flag for any organisation raising both financial
and work, health and safety risks,” he said.
Mr Achterstraat also highlighted the impact of an ageing workforce
on universities’ cash balances in the future.
“The increasing demand for funds to payout the entitlements of an
aging workforce creates liquidity risks for the universities,” he said.
The Auditor-General’s Volume 2, 2012, reports on
the audits of all ten NSW universities’ 2011 financial statements.
Ultimo was filled with the words "Changes to Workers Compensation" and "Stand up against the cuts to workers Compensation" take a leaflet thanks to our CPSU organiser and local delegates this morning.
Rosa Bow and Nathan Bradshaw Building 1
Max Callaghan Building 10
Ultimo TAFE was covered by Leon Parrisi, Ian Lisser and other delegates.
The
O’Farrell Government plans to severely cut workers compensation payments.
In quick
succession they have released an issues paper, set up a parliamentary inquiry
and said they will push through the Parliament this session changes to the
workers compensation scheme.
It’s a rush
job with negligible public discussion and scant examination of the evidence.
The
Parliamentary Inquiry was authorised on May 2, has had three public hearing
days, with only a handful of interested parties given an opportunity to put
their case, and it’s going to report on June 13. The PSA is one of the many not
heard.
On
Wednesday June 13 there will be a large lunchtime rally outside Parliament
House, and rallies in Wollongong and Newcastle. Members who can are asked to
attend these rallies.
This is not a
stopwork meeting. Members attending are asked to take a long lunch break or
take flex or recreation leave. If your manager refuses a leave request contact
the PSA/CPSU immediately.
Other
members throughout the state can contribute to the public pressure against the
unnecessary and harsh changes proposed by:
·Signing
and circulating the petition which can be downloaded from the PSA website at http://www.psa.labor.net.au/
·Holding
a PSA meeting at your workplace to discuss the issues and endorse the
recommended resolution – download from the PSA website.
·Invite
your PSA/CPSU industrial officer and organisers to attend your meetings
·Visit
the combined unions campaign site and send a message to your Member of
Parliament, add a story to the site, sign the online petition – it’s at http://www.nswforall.org.au/
·Arrange
a visit to your local MP
·Ring
your local radio station or send a letter to your local paper
·There
is background information on the PSA and campaign websites, and in the
last Red Tape.
Thank you to
members who have already committed to the rallies or have acted on the above
suggestions.
The
Government’s proposals are heavily loaded against the longer term ill and
injured. They propose
to:
·Reduce
weekly payments after 13 weeks
·Cap
weekly payments after 2.5 years – after 6months most long term injured receive
only $432 per week, which is below the poverty line
·Cap
medical payments at 2.5 years, ignoring the fact that severely injured or ill
people need ongoing treatment even though they may be back at work
·Stop
partners of those killed at work being compensated for nervous shock
·Stop
lump sum payments for pain and suffering
·Removal
of coverage for trips to and from work
·Make
harder the test for employer negligence in lump sum claims
We opposed
the current scheme enacted in 2001 because it made things harder for injured
workers and their families. Those changes have also give employers a 33 percent
reduction in premiums.
Now the
O’Farrell Government wants to further cut benefits.
The proposed
cuts are not acceptable. We can force changes or even block the changes if we
exert enough pressure. On June 13 let the government know their cuts are not
accepted. And after June 13 make it clear they will not be forgotten or
forgiven.
John
Cahill
General
Secretary.
Workers Compensation June 13 Rally in Sydney
Wednesday
June 13 at 12.30pm.
Rally
outside Parliament House
PSA/CPSU
members & supporters are asked to meet at the George St end of Martin Place
at 12.00-12.15 so we can move up to the rally en masse.
Workers
Compensation rights are too important. Don't let them take it away.
Your delegates distributed this flyer throughout UTS reminding staff of the importance of the Support Staff Enterprise Agreement for our conditions of employment.
Howe Inquiry submissions surpass 500 as workers share their stories about insecure jobs
06 February, 2012 | Fact Sheet, Media ReleaseThe Howe Inquiry into insecure work in Australia has been swamped with more than 500 submissions, including around 450 from workers eager to tell their stories.
More than 100 of the submissions are now available online at securejobs.org.au, with more being added each day.
The submissions also include about 50 from community groups, unions, academics and other organisations.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said the response to the inquiry, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe, had been overwhelming and showed the level of community interest in the issue.
“It is no understatement to say that the number and quality of submissions to this inquiry has exceeded our wildest expectations,” Ms Kearney said.
“The issue of insecure work has really struck a chord in the Australian community.
“Submissions range in length from a few sentences to hundreds of pages, but many of the most compelling are short stories from Australia workers about the impact insecure work has had on their lives. Many are heart-breaking.
21 May, 2012 | ReportThis is the report of the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work which analyses the extent of casualisation now affecting 40% of the workforce, and sets out possible solutions.
The Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work in Australia wasannounced on 24 October 2011.
The inquiry accepted written submissions between 2 November 2011 and 20 January 2012. Hearings were held around Australia between 13 February 2012 and 22 March 2012.
The case studies used throughout this report have been drawn from submissions made to the inquiry, witnesses who gave evidence to the hearings, and further interviews. In some cases, minor details have been changed to protect the anonymity of the case study at their request.
