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 Home Campaign Bulletins Schools
SAS Staff News, 16 July 200716 July 2007SAS Staff Higher Duties and SuperannuationAll SAS Staff who are undertaking higher duties and receiving the higher duties allowance will immediately have their superannuation adjusted to ensure that the superannuation contributions are calculated at the higher rate. That is 9% of your ordinary (including HDA) income.In addition, if you wish to contribute a greater amount to your superannuation you can do so by contacting the DET. Toilet Passes and Swipe CardsIn some schools the toilet blocks are kept locked during class time. Students have access to toilets in the admin block. They have to go to the office with a pass from the teacher or to have their card swiped in order to collect a key for the toilet. The supervision of this task is not the duty of SAS staff.Some schools have also installed swipe card systems. These lead to similar problems. Chasing keys, solving problems of lost cards/keys, keys locked in the toilet, chasing passes or swiped cards etc. - these are not the role of SAS staff. SAS Staff Use as RunnersThe PSA has been informed that some schools are asking SAS Staff (including GAs, AEAs and TA(S)s) to run errands around the school. You all have enough work to do without being expected to take on this additional task.Messages for other staff should be placed in their pigeon hole for collection. Workplace Bullying and Harassment
Recently the PSA intervened on behalf of a group of members being subjected to this unacceptable behaviour at their school. After unsuccessful attempts by the Union and the SED to solve the situation at the school level the PSA took the case to Senior Departmental Officers which resulted in a very satisfactory outcome for PSA Members. Congratulations to the PSA members involved for having the courage to come forward and pursue the issue in a difficult situation - you know who you are. With PSA support other members can achieve good results. Employees are entitled to be treated with respect and are expected to treat each other with respect. The PSA will not hesitate to support members who are subjected to bullying/harassment in their workplace. If you or your colleagues are experiencing this type of behaviour contact us. Entitlement to protective clothing and equipmentAll General Assistants have an automatic entitlement to protective clothing and equipment. These items should be supplied on appointment and replaced when items become unserviceable. GAs can purchase these items and be reimbursed by the school or have the school billed direct.A full list of these standard entitlements is available in the PSAs General Assistants Survival Kit. If you are a PSA member and do not have a kit please phone us. Supply of ToolsThe PSA is aware that some GAs are using their own tools for work purposes. Some schools are reasonable in supplying GAs with a good range of tools and equipment to carry out their work however some schools do not. Arising from this the PSA GAs Working Party is developing a proposal for a tool kit entitlement.Supervision of students, volunteers and other adult workers such as community service participantsSAS Staff (including General Assistants and Teachers Aides) are not responsible for the supervision of students. This means that you should never be alone with students. Teachers are responsible for supervision of students. Recognition of this responsibility is reflected in their rate of pay.SAS Staff should not transport students. Failure to observe this advice could result in civil or even criminal charges being laid against you. Similarly, SAS Staff cannot be asked or directed to supervise parent volunteers, community service, work for the dole participants or prisoners on day release. Schools are often keen to take advantage of this additional free labour but responsibility for supervision rests with the workplace manager a.k.a. the principal or the scheme or program coordinator. Motor Vehicle AllowanceThere is no requirements for any SAS Staff (including GAs or TA(S)s) to use their own cars for any work activities. However, if you agree to use your car you are entitled to receive the motor vehicle allowance. Ensure that you have agreement to receive the allowance before you use the vehicle and also clarify the position about your insurance coverage.
Thank you - Job Cuts=Service CutsThe PSA would like to thank all of those members who worked with us on the Job Cuts=Service Cuts campaign. We have successfully prevented NSW Public Sector Jobs from being handed over to the Commonwealth and therefore being the subject of the WorkChoices legislation. Pay Rise - 4% this monthIn your next pay you should all receive the 4% pay increase negotiated by the PSA. The SAS Staff Award granted a 16% increase over a 4 years period ie. 4% each year. SAS Staff have received 12% (3 x 4%) therefore the final 4% will be paid in the first full pay period after 1 July 2007. The Award will expire in 2008The Treasurer, Michael Costa, handed down the NSW Governments budget a couple of weeks ago announcing a 2.5% increase per year for Public Sector workers. This is PSA, Police, Nurses, Teachers Fire Brigade etc. The PSA and the other Public Sector Unions reject this proposal and will fight for fair salary increases for Public Sector workers. The PSA executive have started discussions and will meet with the other unions and Unions NSW (formerly Labor Council). We will then develop a timeframe for approaching the Government to start negotiations for the next round of increases. The aim will be to have a new award ready to register when the current award expires. LMBR (Learning and Management Business Reform) SystemRepresentatives of the PSA met with the DET about the LMBR system. This program is a new software system which is being developed to be implemented throughout the DET. It is intended to integrate the finance and student information and administration activities of the whole department.The first stage is expected to take 3-4years to develop and implement and will cover Finance for the State Office, Regional Offices and Schools (in that order) and HR & Payroll for TAFE. The second stage will take an additional 3-4 years and will implement the HR & Payroll over the remainder of the DET and will implement the student administration system throughout the DET. The DET have advised that they will keep the PSA informed of progress of LMBR. This new system will obviously have an impact on School Administrative Staff. As yet we dont know how much of an impact. There is no suggestion of job cuts and they would be vigorously opposed by the PSA. You can be assured that the PSA delegates and industrial staff will keep a close eye on the development of this system and keep you informed. ERN (Enrolment and Registration Number)This is a new system being developed that will begin to be instituted by September this year. It will operate with LMBR when it is up and running. The aim of the ERN system is to keep a continuous record of each student from kindergarten to year 12 and on to TAFE. When they move schools the number will identify them and make recordkeeping easier.The Association has a number of representatives on a working party that the DET have set up to implement this system. We are working to ensure that the DET implement this system with enough training. We also want to ensure that it makes your work easier rather than causing more work. Secondary EmploymentIf you have a job, other than the one you hold in the school, you need to inform the Department of Education and Training. This condition applies to all NSW public servants. If you have a second job and have not informed the Department you are in breach of the Education (School Administrative and Support Staff) Act 1987.Staff MeetingsStaff meetings should not be called during lunch or morning tea breaks. SAS Staff are entitled to take a lunch break of at least half an hour. You are also entitled to a morning tea break. You are not having a break if you are attending a staff meeting. So all meetings should be scheduled at times that dont interfere with these breaks.Helping SAS StaffThe PSA negotiates to improve conditions for Teachers Aides. We are greatly assisted by members who work with us as delegates or PSA representatives on committees, working parties, and Regional SASS reference groups.When we negotiate with DET we ensure that the composition of committees includes a position for Teachers Aides (eg Regional SAS Staff Reference Groups). Unfortunately sometimes there is difficulty filling some of these positions. It is important that Teachers Aides have an opportunity to have a voice about SAS staff activities. If you are interested in being a delegate or a representative on one of the committees please give us a call and register your interest. Call the PSA on 02) 9290 1555 or 1800 467 932 and ask for the Schools Team. Contact Details Schools Team Ph: 02 9290 1555  
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