TAFE & DET – various updates on the restructures

Lifelong Learning response

In addition to cuts in particular areas, some of which were dealt with in the last bulletin, there is a general pattern of cuts to clerical support staff. The PSA believes the work of these positions is absolutely vital to the functioning of the Department and TAFE.

Those whose positions aren't directly affected by cutting will be left to do clerical support work in addition to their own work if these positions are not saved. DET and TAFE may be intending to plug these holes by engaging casual employees for busy periods, after the new provisions for casual employment in the public service are introduced, but many years of corporate knowledge will be lost with every permanent clerical support position axed.

The PSA is concentrating on getting in our formal response to Lifelong Learning version 2 before focussing on the Corporate Services review.

Corporate Services review

The DET/TAFE Corporate Services Strategy was released late on 21 October. The PSA is aware that "model" proposed by DET for corporate services delivery across the two organisations is of great concern to members, including those in district offices and TAFE Institutes, both for the future of their jobs, and in worrying that the proposed model simply won't provide the support needed by schools and TAFEs.

Also of concern is the fact that TAFE members have very little idea of what structures are proposed for TAFE.

Members should send their comments on the proposed corporate services strategy to the PSA at tafe-det@psa.asn.au.

It is important to note that DET's proposal is only at the consultation stage and won't be finalised until December. Managers should not be telling members that their job or function has been abolished or moved elsewhere. Please report such cases to your local delegate.

Mobility

DET is responding to the PSA's concerns about the ongoing problem of employment mobility across DET and TAFE, caused by the fact that TAFE Institute staff are employed under the TAFE Commission Act 1990, rather than the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002.

The PSA wants TAFE administrative, clerical and support staff brought under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002, to allow officers full mobility across both organisations and into the public service as a whole. More information will be provided as negotiations occur.

Work value of jobs in the new structure

The PSA asked DET how it came up with the duties, classifications and gradings of position in their structure released September 24, as they show a ruthless disregard for proper job design and work value assessment, let alone what will happen to the work of deleted positions.

DET has written back saying that it reached these decisions using a "whole of job" grading process, and that while the agreed job evaluation system (CED) used in TAFE will remain in place, that "whole of job" will remain in DET until a review in the unspecified future.

The PSA is concerned that no real process of grading jobs has been used at all, rather that salaries budgets have been the only real consideration, causing inconsistent and poor gradings to continue.

The PSA is also concerned that Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 guidelines on classifying and grading positions have not been used. The Association believes that a proper process for deciding the design and work value of jobs must be used in determining the new structure, to safeguard the situation of TAFE members moving into DET, and to address the long-time underpayment and inequity for DET members, as was recently achieved by School Administrative Support Staff members (see the new Red Tape for details).

Temporary employees

It's very important for temporary employees with DET and TAFE to have their employment status confirmed with DET or their Institute HR Unit. TAFE and DET should not be able to cut jobs by getting rid of long term temporary employees without either offering redeployment in ongoing temporary work or paying separation payments equivalent to a VR. It's not only against individual temporary members' interests but also against the PSA membership as a whole as temporary employees' work may still remain.

Anecdotal evidence from many areas of DET and TAFE is that they could not survive without the many temporary employees performing vital work (as a result of job cuts in past restructures), and that management may not know how many are employed by the organisations.

The PSA took up complaints about the incorrect advice being given to temporary employees by DET and TAFE concerning their status. In return, DET has committed to a process of examining the status of every temporary employee on DET Admin and Casual payrolls and the Institute payrolls. Members should expect to receive a letter from DET advising them of their status in the near future.

Members who are still concerned about DET/TAFE's response should contact the PSA, either by faxing Anne Kennelly (DET) or Sally McManus (TAFE) (fax 9262 1623) with an outline of their concerns and employment background with the organisation, and a copy of DET/TAFE's letter. The following guidelines are provided for your information:

• Short term temps are those employed for less than 12 months.

• Long term temps are those employed for more than 12 months continuously and who have the expectation of ongoing employment. This expectation could arise if you were initially employed for a fixed period specified in an advertisement or to complete a particular project but this has since been extended without further advertising, or merely that you've been brought on without any advertisement and been extended beyond 12 months.

• Fixed term temps are those employed for a particular period, which would have specified to them in an advertisement or to complete a particular project with a defined end date. Staff in this situation may not have the expectation of ongoing employment however this needs to be determined on an individual basis.

There are a large number of people who are long term temps who are either on the DET admin payroll or "casual" payroll or who have alternated between the two continuously for really long periods eg. five years. Being on the "casual" payroll does not mean you are a casual employees as there is currently NO provision for casual employees in our employing acts (this provision commences later this year). You are either a short term temporary, a long term temporary or a fixed term contract temporary.

DET's Career Courses

DET has circulated information to staff about courses which are being provided free of charge by TMP Hudson: Managing Your Career during Times of Ambiguity and Uncertainty;Preparing a Resume in Today's Market.

The workshops are available for all staff (both permanent and temporary). If you have any questions about the workshops, first contact your director or John Brennan (02) 9561 8168.

The PSA encourages members to take up this offer of assistance if they feel it is at all beneficial. But should you be targeted by your manager about attendance at the workshops, please contact the PSA immediately. In particular, if your manager advises you that you as an individual should attend, or that you need to attend - especially if the manager either states or implies that "You should attend the workshops because you won't have a job, or won't have your current position, after the restructure", please report this to your delegate.