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To find out more about the Progressives read the PPSA constitution.
If you want to join the PPSA effort to keep our union strong contact us or find out more: here.
BOF: 'Public Sector workers to pay for super rise'
"Unions and the NSW opposition are crying foul over a state government move to make public servants pay for a compulsory rise in superannuation out of their own pockets.
From July compulsory employer super contributions will rise from 9 per cent to 9.25 per cent, then go up incrementally each year until it reaches 12 per cent in 2019.
Public Service Association (PSA) General Secretary Anne Gardiner said unions were told on Thursday the extra payment would be taken from the already capped wage increase allowed to public servants.
That meant a 2.5 per cent wage cap was in effect closer to a 2.25 per cent wage cap and this would reduce further as the compulsory super rate increased, she said in a statement on Friday."
Read more, The Australian 3 May 2013 "Union cries foul over superannuation rise"
"Single unit to regulate working with children check"
This move will affect members working in the Education, FACS and Justice portfolios among others:
“The new Working With Children Check is now set to commence from 15 June 2013 with its operation streamlined from four separate agencies into one regulatory unit, under the jurisdiction of the NSW Children’s Guardian.”
Read more, PS News 1 May 2013 "Single unit to regulate new children's check"
Find out more from the Office of Communities
Privatising welfare:“Social Impact Bonds"
“Outsourcing, competitive tendering, more charities delivering public services. These have a lot in common with Big Society policies in the UK. And we can get more clues about what's in store for the NSW public sector by following the Big Society platform. Here is some background.”
Read more, 22 April 2013 "Social Impact Bonds and the Big Society"
State Contract C100 to be replaced: will more insecure employment result?
“The Department of Financial Services effectively called time on the State Contract C100 after it described it as a “closed panel contract, which was complex and locked out many suppliers, including small businesses”.
Read more, Government News, 9 April 2013 "NSW overhauls contingent workforce recruitment"
Shooter opposes shooting in National Parks
“A member of Game Council NSW who is facing criminal charges for allegedly taking part in illegal hunting expeditions says the government should abandon plans to open national parks to shooting."
Read more, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 April 2013 "Seasoned shooter joins opposition to hunting in state national parks"
Come to the Rally 12:15 – 1:30pm , Thursday 18th April 2013 @ Hyde Park fountain then march to NSW Parliament House "No Hunting in National Parks Rally"
Lessons from the UK: Billy Bragg on the death of Margaret Thatcher
NSW has a Premier who is an admirer of ex-UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. There is the strong possibility of a similar minded Prime Minister after 14 September. Let us take note of the words of UK songster/campaigner Billy Bragg on the death of Margaret Thatcher:
"This is not a time for celebration. The death of Margaret Thatcher is nothing more than a salient reminder of how Britain got into the mess that we are in today.
"Of why ordinary working people are no longer able to earn enough from one job to support a family; of why there is a shortage of decent affordable housing; of why domestic growth is driven by credit, not by real incomes; of why tax-payers are forced to top up wages; of why a spiteful government seeks to penalise the poor for having an extra bedroom; of why Rupert Murdoch became so powerful; of why cynicism and greed became the hallmarks of our society.
"Raising a glass to the death of an infirm old lady changes none of this. The only real antidote to cynicism is activism. Don't celebrate - organise!"
“Campaign to save "poles and wires"
“The NSW opposition and unions are warning the government not to sell off the state's "poles and wires" electricity infrastructure, despite repeated promises it won't be privatised.
A $1.5 million campaign against the sale of the distribution network was launched yesterday by the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), the United Services Union (USU), the Public Service Association, and the Association of Professional Engineers and Scientists and Managers Australia.”
Read more, 3 April 2013 "Part Warning not to sell power poles and wires"
“Do we really want a size zero government?”
“Our Public Service suffers the plight of the anorexic: no matter how thin it gets there are voices saying it’s too fat.
The Centre for Policy Development’s Christopher Stone, contends that if we don’t want services to run down, we need to consider results as well as resources when measuring success. Politicians most often address this issue with promises of sweeping cuts, but what do they actually mean when they say ‘efficiency’?".
Read more, "False economies", 2 April 2013 "Part 1: Decoding efficiency"
Keep Them Safe
Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour, reports on Community Services and reviewable child deaths.
“This report, as with others before it, again highlights a lack of capacity within Community Services in the time period leading up to these deaths to respond to children at risk of significant harm,” Mr Barbour said.".
Read the Report, March 2013, "Reviewable Deaths in 2010 and 2011: Volume one: Child Deaths"
BOF: 'Education verdict could be better"
"Fewer people think the NSW government is doing a good job in education now, compared with the number who approved when Labor was in power, according to the latest Nielsen poll."
"The government's announcement last year that it was cutting $1.7 billion over four years in education funding, including $800 million and 800 jobs from TAFE, angered public and private schools and the wider community."
2014 will bring extra pressure on the TAFE budget with more TAFE funding than ever being put on the open market. Meanwhile in schools the Local Schools Local Decisions reforms are expected to produce jobs cuts on top of the bidget cuts.
Read more, Sydney Morning Herald, 26 March 2013 "Education verdict could be better"
Lesson from the UK, BOF take note
"Whitehall departments and local authorities hit by years of belt-tightening are re-hiring staff to fill gaps left by over-zealous redundancy schemes, according to a jobs report published on Tuesday.
Such is the hiring spree that public sector organisations are predicted to outpace the private sector in the next few months."
Read more, The Guardian, Tuesday 12 March 2013 "Public sector rehiring begins after 'over-firing' in redundancy schemes"
Treasury updates Labour Expenses Cap
Commencing in 2012-13, all general government agencies and selected public trading enterprises were required to manage their budget and forward estimates within a Labour Expense Cap. The cap sets the maximum agencies can incur in any year on employee related and contractor expenses. Note that the 2013 update excludes consultants from the cap and makes other changes.
Labour Expense Cap, 2012 "Treasury Circular 12/14 Budget Controls"
Labour Expense Cap updated 2013"Treasury Circular 13/03 Budget Controls"
PSA/CPSU members 24 hour strike at Sydney Uni, 7th March
"Under the Universities draft Enterprise Agreement professional staff face the following:
a 60% reduction in sick leave entitlements
a real threat to job security
far inferior redundancy entitlements than academic staff
and many more attacks on the conditions that we have fought for and won.
To make things worse, whilst the University attacks our conditions they expect staff to accept a 2% per annum payrise. A cut in wages in real terms."
On 27 February PSA/CPSU members voted in favour of a 24 hour strike.
Members are encouraged to join the picket, City Road Gates, from 7am onwards.
Also, read the Sydney Morning Herald report on the academic union joint strike action, also on 7 March "Strike to disrupt uni's first week"
Privatisation agenda proceeds apace:
Government's "Smart and Skilled" review of TAFE
"IPART (Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal) has been asked by the NSW Government to conduct a review of price and fee arrangements for vocational education and training. Under Smart and Skilled, from 2014, eligible people will be able to choose government subsidised training from TAFE NSW or an approved private or community training organisation."
IPART is to present a draft report to the Minister for Education by 30 June 2013 and its final report to the Minister by 31 August 2013.
Read more about the terms of reference of the IPART review: "Review of price and fee arrangements for government-funded vocational education under Smart and Skilled"
Read more about the Smart and Skilled review: "Review of price and fee arrangements for government-funded vocational education under Smart and Skilled"
What the union is doing about it: "TAFE Community Alliance”
What the union is doing about it: "Our TAFE”
Save Cronulla fisheries BBQ/rally
Help us ensure the NSW government keeps its contract with the people of NSW* to "Restore accountability" and "Protect our local environment".
The government must not be allowed to ignore the damning inquiry report into the closure of Cronulla Fisheries.
Please join us, and members of the Inquiry Committee, as we rally to demand the Premier acts and overturns this reckless decision.
Come to the Save Cronulla Fisheries BBQ/rally @: "State Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney 1pm Wednesday 21st November"
Was there a secret deal in 2008 which will now result in the loss of 400 schools SASS jobs?
We ask the two senior PSA officials who signed the 2008 Salaries Memorandum of Understanding, President Sue Walsh and General Secretary John Cahill , to explain: Was an agreement made with management as part of the MOU which traded 400 schools admin staff jobs for a pay rise? What was disclosed, if anything, to members? "Information recently gained under the GIPA (Freedom of Information) legislation [emil from DEC Deputy Director-General, Corporate Services, Peter Riordan]"
Read a transcript from a NSW Parliamentary Committee investigation of the $1.7bn cuts to Education. Under questioning by ALP politicians the Minister revealed that:
"I have not seen that particular part of the transcript of the Premier's estimates hearing yesterday, but we have always been upfront about those 400 positions. That agreement with the PSA has been in place now for three years or so. Mr ADRIAN PICCOLI" Page 7
Further evidence of cuts agreed to by senior PSA officials in 2008: "Education, Budget Estimates 2012 - 2013 (NSW)"
Further evidence of cuts agreed to by senior PSA officials in 2008.
Savings Implementation Plans (SIPs) for each Agency were developed in 2009. Here are copies of two parts of the Education SIPs :
"All DET Job Losses"
"Schedule C Implementation of MOU for DET - SASS"
"Hansard Transcript (Legislative Assembly, 23 October 2012"
Front page of Red Tape Nov-Dec 2008 "election edition" (modified) "Red Tape modified to make a point"
2008: Yes conditions WERE traded away for pay, members kept in the dark
The current PSA General Secretary claims delegates spread 'misinformation' about his pay deal and that there are no trade-offs.
It doesn't matter whether you call them offsets, efficiency savings, 'modernising conditions', or trade-offs, the fact remains that he agreed that everything above 2.5% will be funded by offsets including:
the number of days off in a row without a medical certificate has been reduced from 3 to 2 and 5 per year in total
your employer can apply "greater evidence requirements" of your illness including disclosure of the nature of your illness. No backdating of sick certificates etc.
reductions in the motor vehicle allowance rates
restrictions on taking flex leave if you have more than 8 weeks recreation leave
reducing the circumstances under which you can take appeals to GREAT
restrictions on who is eligible for transferred officer compensation
changes to the accumulation of FACS leave, and more
The deal was never put to a vote of members. PSA Rule 25 reads:
"Any offer received with regard to the salaries payable to or conditions affecting any particular group or class of members shall be referred to those members directly or by reference to a committee authorised to advise on their behalf."
Want more detail on the pay deal changes to conditions?
For more details of the changes to conditions and how the pay deal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) works, check:
Our Memorandum Summary and explanation, or
the full Memorandum of Understanding
Public Sector Workforce Office letter to your employer
The Premier's Circular announcing the pay agreement.
The Premier's Memorandum on Forced Redundancies as accepted by the current PSA General Secretary.
Your agency has already submitted its savings wish-list to the Public Sector Workforce Office for approval. A number of agencies have already told their delegates of the cuts and changes to conditions.
From inaction to stop work: some questions
The PSA leadership has finally heeded calls from the membership for industrial action by announcing a state-wide stop work meeting of public servants on Monday, 8 October. The Progressive PSA group encourages all members under state awards to participate in the stop work but to also be aware that serious questions remain unanswered by the current union leadership.
Until now the current leadership team have been very reluctant to organise an industrial campaign to fight back against O’Farrell’s attacks. In fact up to now they have argued against directed industrial action.
Read the Progressive PSA report: "Stop work: some questions"
Strategy of the PSA officials Leaves Members Vulnerable
Since being roundly criticised in previous pay deals for secretly trading off conditions the current PSA executive is desperate to avoid similar criticism this time around. However the O'Farrell government has used the current pay claim to attack members' conditions.
Read the Progressive PSA report, 22 June 2012, "Strategy of the PSA Officials Leaves Members Vulnerable"
Read the Decision of the Commission, "Crown Employees (Public Sector - Salaries 2008) Award [2012]"
Progressives report on PSA Annual Conference
"The PSA Annual Conference 2012 was held at PSA House in Sydney on 24-25 May. The Conference was attended by about 200 PSA delegates from across the state. As in past years delegates heard talks and attended workshops about a range of industrial issues that affect NSW public servants."
The Progressive PSA report: “Report of PSA Annual Conference 2012"
The Progressive PSA leaflet distributed at Conference“We can make the union stronger"
See below for latest reports
NSW TAFE funds to be privatised
"NSW government funding for the TAFE system will no longer be guaranteed.
Institutes will have to compete with private colleges for students because government funding will go to the college in which students enrol, whether it is public or private. Under the present system, TAFE colleges receive block funding from the state government."
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 23 October 2012: "TAFE shake-up could spell an end to non-vocational courses"
O’Farrell Government’s Attacks and Cuts
Unions NSW have produced a Public Sector job loss toll.
Read the Unions NSW report Public Sector Job Cuts (to date), 22 June 2012, "O’Farrell Government’s Attacks and Cuts"
Outsourced PS workers conditions to be protected
"Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten on Friday said he would introduce legislation next month that would require state public sector jobs that are outsourced to receive the same wages and conditions, a rule that will protect existing benefits."
“Mr Shorten said his proposed change would expand the Fair Work Act’s “transfer of business” rules”
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 21 June 2012, "Fair Work to hit states on job cuts"
Education budget slashed: 1800 job to go
The NSW Premier and Education Minister have announced cuts of $1.7 billion over 4 years to the Department of Education and Communities:
1800 job cuts across the board including:
800 job cuts in TAFE and
600 staff in state and regional offices
400 from schools administration according to the Daily Telegraph or from the introduction or new management systems according to the SMH.
the Government will also increase TAFE fees by 9.5%.
Whether these cuts come on top of those announced in the state budget remaims unclear at this stage.
UPDATE: Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 14 September 2012: "Tip of the iceberg: warning 1600 more education jobs to go"
"Ken Dixon, a former general manager of finance and administration, said the government's decision to cut 400 administration jobs from the department was ''drastic''. He said a software program had been introduced to manage human resources, finance and payroll systems - to take the place of 1600 jobs.
'The 400 jobs are just the tip of the iceberg,'' he said. ''There were 1600 jobs factored into the business case."
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 11 September 2012: "NSW to slash $1.7b from education funding"
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 12 September 2012: "O'Farrell takes axe to education"
The ABC report and video, 11 September 2012: "NSW slashes education funding"
Was there a 'secret deal' in 2008 which traded off of jobs and conditions which has come home to roost in 2012? We ask the two senior PSA officials who signed the 2008 Salaries Memorandum of Understanding, General Secretary John Cahill and President Sue Walsh, to explain: Was an agreement made with management as part of the MOU which traded 400 schools admin staff jobs for a pay rise? What was disclosed, if anything, to members? "Information gained under the GIPA (Freedom of Information) legislation"
PSA challenge to pay cap
The transcript of the High Court of Australia proceedings where the PSA challenges the constitutional validity of NSW legislation is linked below. The PSA is challenging the 2.5% pay cap introduced last year on the grounds it overrules the independence of the NSW industrial court. There is no decision from the Full Bench as yet.
Read the High Court of Australia transcript, 5 September 2012: "The Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated of NSW v Director of Public Employment & Ors [2012] HCATrans 207 (5 September 2012) "
Go to High Court of Australia page for submissions and other documents 'PSA v. NSW DPE'
Read the Herald Sun report, 5 September 2012: "NSW wage cap goes to High Court"
Cronulla Fisheries closure inquiry
Select committee on Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre Inquiry into the closure of the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence.
Read the transcript, 3 September 2012: "Closure of the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence"
PS Commissioner: 'you take too much sick leave'. Are more conditions attacks coming?
“The head of the state's Public Service Commission, Grahame Head, said the government planned to implement the practices of departments with the lowest levels of leave.”
However the Herald report also revealed that “Despite the general perception, average absences among NSW public servants are only half a day more than the average of 7.5 sick days in the private sector.”
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 3 September 2012: "Revealed: $1b cost of public sector sick days"
Government to cut public service Conditions Award. PSA executive response: stop work and hold union elections.
8 October has been set for a half day stop work. Part of the reason for this has been the claim by the O'Farrell government to cut a number of working conditions for 80,000 public service workers.
The direction to stop work is most unusual coming from the current PSA leadership. In fact, at the August Central Council, meeting John Cahill spoke against holding a directed stop work. It has been a long time since the last general stop work has been authorised as a directed action. Welcome as such a move is, many members wonder whether it is a matter of too little too late. Why now and not before the state budget they ask?
What about consultation and membership involvement in decision making? Industrial action is likely to be much stronger and more widely observed and therefore more effective when the membership determines the course of actions to be taken, not the executive issuing directions from on high.
Some commentators have suggested that this out of character action is not unconnected from the impending PSA elections and the need by the current leadership to bolster its declining support. Ballot papers will be posted to members on 11 October just a few days after the stop work.
Read the draft O'Farrell Conditions Award for the Public Service, June 2012: "IRC Matter 645 of 2012"
Read a summary of the proposed conditions cuts: "The Proposed Changes to the Crown Employees Conditions Awards"
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 29 August 2012: "O'Farrell to slash benefits for 80,000 workers"
O'Farrell response to state audit: cut workers conditions, privatise
“More outsourcing of government services, an investigation of teacher sick leave and a crackdown on subsidies and concessions are expected following a landmark audit of the NSW public sector.”
"It [Schott Report] makes 132 reform recommendations to the government across agencies, including health, education, transport and water and power utilities."
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 10 August 2012: "Audit calls for cuts to public sector blowout"
Read Government response to the Schott Audit report, August 2012: "NSW Government response to the Final Report of the Commission of Audit"
Read Schott Audit final report, 4 May 2012: "Commission of Audit final report"
Government exposed: "Fisheries job cuts save state more than $5m"
“The relocation of the fisheries research station at Cronulla to regional NSW was expected to result in the loss of 26 to 56 jobs, saving the NSW government $5.34 million in costs, internal documents reveal.”
The opposition spokesman for primary industries, Steve Whan, said
"This clearly contradicts the government's previous statements which assured employees and the fishing industry that all positions at Cronulla would be maintained as the relocation took place."
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 7 August 2012: "Fisheries job cuts save state more than $5m"
Union and community action can 'Save TAFE': "Vocational training faces fleecing and cuts"
“Trade schools around Australia are having the prospect of funding cuts exacerbated by claims that unscrupulous companies are misusing training incentives.”
NSW Minister Mr Adrian Piccoli has said his primary concern was students and the quality of their training, with TAFE sustainability a secondary concern. It will be up to union and community action to ensure that TAFE funding is not privatised.
ABC 7:30 report, 7 August 2012, video and transcript: "Vocational training faces fleecing and cuts"
Followup: ABC 7:30 report, 8 August 2012, video and transcript: "Vocational education regulators face more testing times"
HSU lesson: democratic member control of unions paramount
"The acting head of the Health Services Union says some of the findings listed in a damning report into the union's East branch are "nothing short of obscene".
"The report by Ian Temby QC and Dennis Robertson details allegations of multi-million-dollar instances of nepotism, mal-administration and cronyism."
Read the ABC news report, 24 July 2012. Interviews and links to the full Temby report can also be found here "HSU head outraged by 'obscene' report findings"
Local Liberal MP lashes government over closure of Cronulla fisheries centre
“A state government MP has described the decision to close the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre as an ''embarrassing farce'' in a scathing letter to a minister."
"I am appalled at the misinformation and lack of consultation with me that has produced this embarrassing farce.” So wrote the Liberal member for Cronulla, Mark Speakman, in an email to Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 26 July 2012, "Local member lashes out over closure of Cronulla fisheries centre"
Public submissions for the Upper House Inquiry into the Cronulla Fisheries closure end on Monday, 30th July 2012, "click here for details on how to make a submission"
National Parks jobs cut: weeds and hunters both set to explode
“The NSW government will axe at least 350 environment jobs, sparking claims the state's national parks will be left at the mercy of weeds, hunters and illegal loggers."
Opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley said,
"These cuts will have a severe and dramatic impact, there is an explosion of weeds in our national parks. There will shortly be an explosion of amateur hunters ... and there will be less national park staff on the ground to deal with the consequences of that."
Read the Herald Sun report, 17 July 2012, "More than 350 NSW environment jobs cut"
While sublic sector unions other jurisdictions take action to save jobs and protect conditions [see Qld report "30,000 prepare to walk off the job"] the PSA General Secretary, John Cahill has merely "called on the State Government to meet with staff to discuss ways of making budget cuts without jeopardising “350 vital frontline jobs.”
See PS News report, 18 July 2012 "Union sees red over
green job cuts"
O'Farrell's threat: be quiet and take your medicine or more will be privatised
“The Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has warned the union movement that taking industrial action will lead the state government to consider outsourcing public sector jobs, saying there will be ''consequences'' for ''industrial thuggery''.
The Coalition government is clearly at war against its public sector. It is no coincidence that threats such as this are in line with the plans of big business to turn public services into sources of private profit. The Queensland public sector is fighting back. A question mark hangs over whether there will be a strong response from NSW unions including the PSA. Simply waiting and working towards a change of government guarantees nothing of benefit to the public sector and the community it serves.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 17 July 2012, "Farrell warns unions off 'industrial thuggery'
Read the Brisbane Times report, 17 July 2012, “Up to 30,000 public servants will strike in the first wave of industrial action in August against the state government's job cuts, Queensland's chief public service union said last night.” "30,000 prepare to walk off the job"
UPDATE: Listen to the ABC Radio National podcast, 19 July 2012, “Queensland unions are preparing to challenge the Newman government over a major downsizing of the public service. Up to 20,000 jobs across all departments are expected to be lost under the LNP's cost cutting drive.” "Queensland prepares for ‘industrial mayhem’"
O'Farrell's Grafton jail 'solution': displace Sydney public service workers 600 kms
“Premier Barry O'Farrell says the Government is looking to move Sydney-based public sector jobs to Grafton after forceful lobbying from local Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis.”
Moving jobs for political reasons has become a tradition in NSW. Has the government considered that asking workers to move 600 kms to Grafton means uprooting families and consequently may lead to unemployment for many who are displaced and cannot go.
ABC News report and podcast, 12 July 2012, "Public sector jobs to be moved to Grafton"
Defend disability support in schools, defend SLSO permanency
"From the start of term 3, 272 schools in NSW will face cuts to critical funding that supports kids with disabilities. This will restrict support for kids already facing big challenges getting through primary and high school."
Come to a Rally & Press conference!!
Sunday July 15
11am
the Graham Green
(The park next to Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design, enter via Fairfowl St, off Marrickville Rd)
Dulwich Hill, Sydney
Go to the web site for more information and a list of affected schools, "Support our kids"
UPDATE Report from the rally. The Progressives note that the Education Director General has yet to guarantee that no student with a disability will be disadvantaged by having less support from a School Learning Support Officer.
"Over 100 supporters attend press conference opposing cuts to disability support in NSW Schools"
Minister, Adrian Piccoli, claims 'bureaucrats' must go
The Minister states that NSW wants to avoid the disaster of Victorian TAFE where some colleges are being shut down due to budget cuts. But a recommendation on placing TAFE funding on the open market is before Cabinet. The onus is on Mr Piccoli to stand up to Coalition plans to slash the public TAFE sector. This interview does not give TAFE staff much hope that he is able or willing to overcome the ideological conservatism of the Coalition government.
“[The Minister] says there will be cuts in the TAFE bureaucracy but he's working to protect teachers despite those teaching positions not being immune from cuts."
Listen to the ABC podcast, 9 July 2012 "Education Minister Adrian Piccoli on TAFE jobs"
Roads and Maritime job cuts put road safe at risk
“Treasury documents show nearly 400 jobs are going from the department in the next year, with the Centre for Road Safety to shed more than a quarter of its staff."
Read the ABCnews report, 9 July 2012 "NSW defends road safety job cuts"
NSW fire stations may close under cuts
“Some fire stations may permanently close across NSW as the emergency service faces some "tough decisions" to cut costs.
As part of the state government's 1.2 per cent annual labour expense cap announced in last month's budget, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) spokesman Andrew Parsons said that "everything is on the table" as it looks at cost savings.
This includes the permanent closure of some fire stations across NSW.
Read the Herald Sun report, 8 July 2012 "NSW fire stations may close under cuts"
Grafton Jail Protest: blow by blow report
Read and view video of the overnight protest against the down sizing of Grafton Jail.
Read and view video from the Grafton Daily Examiner eyewitness report, 8 July 2012 "LIVE: Grafton Jail Protest"
"TAFE Illawarra staff feels budget axe"
“TAFE teachers say large staff budget cuts at Wollongong campuses could lead to welding, mining, manufacturing and arts classes being cancelled due to safety concerns.
Support staff at TAFE Illawarra were told this week that their working hours had been slashed dramatically while others were told they no longer had a job, according to the NSW Public Service Association.”
Read the Illawarra mercury report, 6 July 2012 "TAFE Illawarra staff feels budget axe"
FACS: 1000 jobs to go
"Internal Treasury documents have revealed the department will be required to cut more than $20 million worth of permanent employees in 2012/13 and almost $4 million in temporary staffing, Fairfax reports."
Read the Business Spectator report, July 2012 "Kids at risk in NSW: Labor"
Read the Ombudsman report, August 2011. Are the 'Keep Them Safe' recommendations now at risk? "Special report to Parliament: Keep Them Safe?"
2.5%, Crown Employees get less than average earnings, even less than CPI
The PSA 'interim' claim of 2.5% was awarded by the Industrial Commission on 29 June. It will be paid to PSA covered Crown Employees in the first full pay period in July.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports Average Weekly Earnings to be between 3.9% in the public sector and 4.5% in the private sector over the year to February 2012. NSW Crown Employees (the majority of PSA members) have been awarded 2.5%, an effective pay cut.
UPDATE: Read the Decision of the Commission, "Crown Employees (Public Sector - Salaries 2008) Award [2012]"
Read the ABS report, "Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, Feb 2012"
UPDATE: Victorian Public Service. About 36,000 workers covered by the Public Service Agreement to be registered under Fair Work Australia will win 2.77 per cent average increases over four years, plus a one-off $1500 bonus. Thus breaking their government imposed wages cap of 2.5%. Read the Herald Sun report, 3 July 2012.
"Vic public servants win pay increase"
Workers comp campaign to continue
"Keypoints:
Changes are retrospective,
Weekly payments are reduced,
Cover during travel is retained in a limited form,
There will be limits on lump sums for injury,
According to the Unions NSW sponsored ‘NSWforall.org.au’ web site "Premier O’Farrell told parliament that this is ‘just the first stage’."
More details of the continuing campaign can be found at "NSW for all"
Details of the changes from "UnionsNSW"
Details of the changes from "WorkCover NSW"
O'Farrell announces changed consultative arrangements
Judging from the deafening silence from PSA officials can it be assumed that, irony notwithstanding, the O'Farrell government has once again announced a major change to policy affecting public sector workers without due consultation?
"Keypoints:
The Policy and Guidelines contains commitments to consultative arrangements in NSW public sector workplaces.
Each agency is best equipped to determine the form of consultation that is effective for its operations.
The Policy and Guidelines sets out the principles of consultation that should be reflected in each agency's consultative arrangements and the roles participants accept when they are involved in consultation."
Read the newly announced "Consultative Arrangements: Policy and Guidelines", "C2012-13 Consultative Arrangements: Policy and Guidelines (2012)"
Save Cronulla Fisheries: the fight continues
"A parliamentary inquiry will be held into the closure of the Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre."
Read the latest news at the Save Cronulla Fisheries web site, 22 June 2012, "Staff say Cronulla Fisheries can still be saved"
Thousands turn out in rain for Workers Comp
"Uniformed firefighters and nurses and thousands of other public sector workers filled Macquarie Street as they marched to State Parliament.
They laid flowers at the parliamentary gates for workers who have been killed on the job.
The rally began with songs by a band of teenage brothers who recently lost their father in a workplace accident."
Read the ABC News report, 13 June 2012, "Thousands rally over NSW WorkCover shake-up"
Wollongong: “South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris led the protest and raised cheers from the crowd when he suggested workers were being unfairly targeted by the State Government.”
Illawarra Mercury, 14 June 2012, "Public sector workers rally against compo cuts "
Newcastle ABC News, 14 June 2012, "Newcastle rallies over WorkCover changes"
Job cuts:
In an SMH opinion piece, Dr James Whelan,Director of the public service research program at the Centre for Policy Development, wrote:
"Rather than citing evidence of excess capacity, the O'Farrell government justifies public sector cuts by arguing that the public sector is too big, costs too much, and that this slows the economy. These arguments lack evidence and are unlikely to convince the electorate."
Read more, SMH 14 June, 2012 "What did 15,000 public servants ever do for us, right? Wrong"
State Budget: Confirmed 10,000 jobs to go: where is the union action?
"Forced redundancies were likely to take place in the public sector as department bosses were called upon to make the equivalent of 10,000 job cuts over the next four years, the Treasurer, Mike Baird, confirmed."
Campaigns against job losses are among the hardest of union campaigns. It takes strong, united cross sector action to have any hope of success. Unions NSW organised a 10,000 strong to defend Workers Compensation on 13 June. This action also had a jobs theme. It is a message which needs to be strengthened. Waiting for the next ALP government is not the answer. And merely to ask those left in public sector employment not to take up the workload of those retrenched is to repeat a failed policy of the past.
Now it has been confirmed that another 10 000 jobs are slated to go on top of the 5 000 already axed by O’Farrell it is vital that the PSA works with other unions to develop an industrial campaign that involves public sector workers across NSW.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 13 June 2012, "Savings target puts sackings on agenda"
Read the Nine News report, 13 June 2012, "Workers rally in Sydney to preserve compo"
Find out the impact of the Budget on your Department or Agency at the NSW Budget website
NSW budget will be tough, O'Farrell says
"NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has refused to rule out that up 10,000 jobs could be slashed from the state's public sector. He said next Tuesday's budget would be a tough one that cuts public sector waste and pointed to continued economic uncertainty and a $5.4 billion shortfall in GST revenues over four years."
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 5 June 2012, here
Job losses confirmed: where is the union action?
Meanwhile, "Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has described the latest economic growth figures as "stunning" and has declared that they should put an end to the "doomsayers".
Read the ABC News report, 6 June 2012, "Swan hits back at economic 'doomsayers'".
Read the News.com report, 4 June 2012, "In a move that could anger unions, the Ai Group also called for more public sector cost-cutting." NSW told 'sell more assets'.
Lowest paid workers awarded $17.10 a week pay rise
Fair Work Australia has awarded low paid workers what they describe as a "moderate" wage increase of 2.9%. This pay rise does not apply to any workers covered by the PSA. The pay rise, which required no trade-offs, was welcomed by Tony Abbott but condemned by the ACTU as too low. So far the top officials of the PSA have only been able to deliver members a 2.5% pay rise. More than one year since the O'Farrell Government assumed power there is still no indication that the PSA intends to involve members in an industrial campaign to fight for an above inflation pay increase.
Read more "here"
Power sell-off
“Legislation to sell New South Wales electricity generators has passed the Upper House of State Parliament, after a deal allowing hunting in some national parks.”
"It's a sad day for the people of New South Wales... Our national parks have been turned into hunting reserves and Barry O'Farrell has broken one of his most significant promises and that was not to do deals with the cross-benchers" according to Opposition Leader, John Robertson. However, "Former treasurer Eric Roozendaal supports the sale but voted against it last night"
Read the ABC News report, 31 May 2012 "Power sale bill passes NSW Upper House"
Support the campaign: "Stop Barry's Power Sell-Off"
'Panel to help unions avoid HSU scandal':
So far top PSA officials salaries remain
secret
“A New panel set up by the ACTU and led by a retired Federal Court judge will help unions avoid serious governance scandals such as those engulfing the Health Services Union.”
"I am happy to publish what I earn, and what every official of our union earns. Every other union in this country should do the same," said Mr Howes, who is on a salary of $146,000." Paul Howes is AWU National Secretary.
ACTU Secretary, Dave Oliver is quoted as saying: "I do not believe there is any place in our movement for $360,000 being paid to any union official".
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 17 May 2012 "Panel to help unions avoid HSU scandal"
The Progressive PSA group has been calling for greater levels of transparency and accountability for top union officials over many years.
Read the Progressive PSA report, 23 April 2012 "Democracy in the PSA"
Cuts to Workers Compensation
“The NSW government's proposed cuts to workers' compensation is an attempt to push costs from the private sector to the public health and welfare system, a union argues.”
Read the Nine News report, 25 May 2012 "Cuts to WorkCover a budgeting exercise"
Read the Unions NSW media release, 21 May 2012 "Unions Launch Workers Comp TV Ads, Announce Rally"
Wage Watch: High Court challenge
“The High Court has granted the NSW Public Service Association leave to challenge the NSW Government's industrial laws capping public sector salary rises to 2.5%.”
Read the Sydeny Morning Herald report, 11 May 2012 "High Court allows challenge to public servants' salary cap"
Read the Nine News report, 11 May 2012 "Wage laws will beat any challenge: NSW govt"
The current PSA leadership appears to be acting alone in relying on a High Court challenge to gain more than 2.5% for members. Even if the challenge is successful there is at this late stage no campaign evident which can win more than the 2.5% cap.
Jobs Watch: Cronulla Fisheries fight on
"On 8th September, 2011, the NSW government announced its decision to close the internationally renowned Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence and relocate staff to disparate regional areas as part of its
‘Decade of Decentralisation’
"In a recent meeting of Fisheries staff and union representatives it was voted unanimously to initiate a ban on all work related to the relocation of staff from Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence in response to poor treatment of staff."
Read the Save Cronulla Fisheries report, 10 May 2012 "Save Cronulla Fisheries
ICAC: "Outsourcing 'exposing NSW government to graft'
“The NSW government risks exposing itself to corruption as it becomes more reliant on the private sector to deliver services, the corruption watchdog says.”
Read the Australian newspaper report, 8 May 2012 "Outsourcing 'exposing NSW government to graft'
See also the report below: JOBS WATCH: "Public service IT jobs at risk"
Our rights at work: "O’Farrell’s hidden agenda on HSU administrator bill
“Legislation introduced into NSW Parliament today to allow the HSU to be put into administration has a hidden agenda which may have wide ramifications, according to Greens NSW Industrial Relations spokesperson David Shoebridge.
“The Government professes to be sorting out a legal technicality in the HSU case but is in fact introducing a bill that has much greater powers than are required to address this problem,” Mr Shoebridge said."
Read the NSW Greens Media Release, 8 May 2012 "O’Farrell’s hidden agenda on HSU administrator bill"
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 9 May 2012 "Labor and Greens concerned NSW govt minister will have power to put any union into administration"
Read the "Industrial Relations Amendment (Industrial Organisations) Bill 2012"
JOBS WATCH: "Public service IT jobs at risk", State Records slashed
“Thousands of technology staff working for the NSW government will know within 12 to 24 months whether their jobs are secure as new business plans are completed.”
"Department of Finance and Services Director-General Michael Coutts-Trotter said more than 5600 public servants were employed as IT staff and that they did a very good job under the current system."
“We do need those people working the way we do now,” he said. “But if we change the way we work, then, no we won’t and we’ll be buying services instead of employing people."
Read the Australian Financial Review article, 8 May 2012 "Public service IT jobs at risk"
Also read the Image and Data Manager background article, 7 May 2012 "NSW government plots ICT reform agenda"
Read the Sydney Morning Herald article, 5 May 2012 "Archives 'at risk' as state cuts back''
Judicial pay rise: "Judges threaten to wage war"
If there's a sound reason for the PSA leadership to only claim 2.5% then it is isn't apparent and it certainly isn't based on any consultation with members. Meanwhile, Police and the judiciary are exempt from the 2.5% pay cap imposed on the rest of the public sector.
"The one-off 3 per cent windfall came on top of the judiciary's normal 3 per cent annual wage rise because judges are not subject to the state's new 2.5 per cent public sector wages cap.”
Read the Daily Telegraph report, 24 April 2012 "Judges threaten to wage war"
Also read the Daily Telegraph report, 24 April 2012, here
"Member control of union affairs: Is democracy fading in the PSA"
"A number of recent changes to the way our union operates have raised serious questions about the priorities of the current PSA leadership.”
Read the Progressive PSA report, 23 April 2012 "Democracy in the PSA"
"Trimming the public sector is proving hard, says Carr."
"I don't think people want tariffs back . . . but as the Queensland election showed, they certainly didn't want privatisation of what they see as core responsibilities of government . . . I speak as an expert on this, having failed to deliver privatisation of electricity in NSW.”
"I don't think either side of politics has settled on the means of trimming the state sector. I don't think the current crop of coalition governments are going to produce magic answers, even though they are less dependent on a public sector workforce for its votes than Labor . . . Getting the public sector any lower as a share of the economy is proving hard." Labor Senator, Bob Carr, quoted in the Australian, 21 April.
Read the Australian newspaper report, 21 April 2012 "Trimming the public sector is proving hard, says Carr."
NSW Police allowed to claim a 5% annual pay rise. PSA only claims for 2.5%
“Police have won a major victory in their bid for a 15 per cent pay rise after the Industrial Relations Commission ruled officers had made major improvements in tackling crime.”
“The full size of the pay rise is yet to be determined, but the ruling opens the way for officers to receive above the 2.5 per cent cap on salary increases that Premier Barry O'Farrell has imposed on 325,000 public servants. The exact amount will be decided when the case returns to the commission on May 14, three weeks before the state budget.”
Read the Daily Telegraph article, 18 April 2012 Cops rewarded for falling crime rates.
The current PSA leadership appears to be acting alone in relying on a High Court challenge to gain more than 2.5% for members.
Read also the Nine MSN report, 18 April 2012 Police now guaranteed to get pay rise.
O'Farrell moves to conform Fair Work Australia to restrictive NSW PS policies
“The State has asked the Commonwealth Government to amend the Act to recognise the new laws applying to State Public Servants.”
“In its official position statement, NSW called for changes to be made where a State had laws such as the Industrial Relations Amendment (Public Sector Conditions of Employment) Act 2011 or established policies or laws relating to the appointment, termination and redundancy of its employees.”
Read the PS News report, 18 April 2012 Fair Work pressure to
back NSW PS laws.
Another attack on PSA union democracy: Women's Council blow
Women’s Council no longer consists of all PSA women. It is restricted to a faction dominated group of delegates.
PSA President Sue Walsh moved a resolution of Women’s Council Committee to extend the term of current Women's Council delegates to 4 years, and to postpone the election due this year by 2 years.
Eligibility to attend Women’s Council Annual General Meeting now excludes all PSA women except Women’s Council delegates and Central Council women delegates.
Women’s Council could meet as few as 4 times per year instead of nine at present.
More information about new restrictions on women members’ involvement and what to do about it can be found: here
Corporate shared service centres under scrutiny
"According to the Financial Review, the New South Wales Government has indicated it may follow in the footsteps of fellow states Queensland and Western Australia and drastically re-work its IT shared services strategy, in the wake of questionable benefits having flowed from the scheme."
Delimiter, 17 April 2012
Read the report: "NSW Govt may scrap IT shared services units"
Read the Financial Review report, 17 April 2012: "NSW technology ‘not revolutionary’"
Forced redundancy legislated for public sector
"Legislation to clear the way for forced redundancies in the NSW Public Service has been passed by State Parliament." PS News 11 April 2012
Barry O'Farrell complained about having about 300 out of over 300,000 staff out of permanent positions at any given time. In reality given the accelerating round of departmental and agency restructuring (even more post Schott report - see below: "O'Farrell public sector audit") the number of excess staff is small.
The vast majority of excess staff found permanent positions within a year under the old rule. None sat doing nothing in 'leggo rooms'. Due to government imposed restrictions of filling vacant positions for admin staff there are always jobs that need doing, services to the public that need to be maintained.
O'Farrell said "the Court had proposed that an excess employee could not be made redundant as long as ‘useful work’ of any kind existed anywhere across the entire public sector."
The Court was correct. O'Farrell has made another attack on a fair judicial process.
Read the PS News report: "No redundancies rule redundant"
Employers are using Award review to bring back the worst of Workchoices
"A major business group has today confirmed that the goal of a new push by employers is to cut wages and conditions in Awards.
Interviewed on ABC radio in Melbourne this morning, the Executive Director of the National Retail Association, Gary Black, confirmed that employers were using the current review of the Award system to seek a “radical overhaul” of wages, hours of work, penalty rates and other conditions." ACTU media release, 10 April 2012.
Read the ACTU media release with a link to further analysis of employer claims.
"Show us the money or we'll stall reform: states."
"The states are threatening to boycott new national reform deals if the federal government fails to commit a fresh round of funding to agreements that Kevin Rudd struck with the states to improve business regulation, education and indigenous health."
Read the Australian newspaper report, 30 March 2012 "Show us the money or we'll stall reform: states."
O'Farrell: one year on, unions give an 'F'.
Barry O'Farrell has shown how removed he is from his employees with a broadcast message to the Public Sector celebrating his first anniversary as Premier:
"At every corner I have been heartened by the efforts of dedicated and professional public servants and public sector workers who have risen to meet the challenge of change" he wrote. About the same time this email went out O'Farrell announced another round of attacks on the Public Sector and it workers. The conservative O'Farrell government revealed its real intentions with an announced attempt to cut the pay of even more public sector workers.
“Mr O'Farrell said the 2.5 per cent annual wage cap introduced last year currently applied to 270,000 public sector workers. However, a further 50,000 are exempt because they fall under the federal system."
O'Farrell wants to challenge that. With inflation at 3.1% and average wages rising by 3.7% it is up to unionists challenge the pay cap/pay cut by an activist campaign. The PSA High Court challenge by itself will not deliver a single cent to members.
Read the Nine News report, 26 March 2012, O'Farrell wants to cut more public sector wages, "Cap pay for all public servants: O'Farrell".
"An online poll of more than 1700 trade union members and supporters over the past week delivered a score of just two out of 10 for the NSW coalition."
Read the Nine News report, 26 March 2012 "Unions give NSW premier an 'F'".
Read the Daily Telegraph report, 26 March 2012 "Premier Barry O'Farrell to slash workers compensation payouts".
”Foster care outsourcing worries union”.
In a response to the Justice James Wood 2008 Inquiry into Child Protection, the State Government has secured contracts with the majority of Non Government Organisations (NGOs) to outsource responsibility for thousands of children in need of foster care.
“Outsourcing foster care to the non-government sector had not worked in Victoria and was unlikely to work in NSW, according to the union representing Community Services workers.” A 2010 Victorian Ombudsman report was cited as evidence of failure in a NGO dominated system.
While a candlelight vigil protest was organised for the day after the transfer of responsibilities was confirmed many Community Services delegates were disappointed that the active campaign was not started earlier.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 14 March 2012 "Fears over government changes to foster care rules".
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 13 March 2012 "Foster care shake-up to begin in NSW".
Read the Victorian Ombudsman 2010 report " Own motion investigation into Child Protection – out of home care ".
Next round of O'Farrell attacks: the legislation
The Public Sector Employment and Management Amendment Bill 2012: Objects of the Bill (summarised):
to revise the circumstances in which the services of excess officers may
be dispensed with, and
to exclude the unfair contracts jurisdiction of the Industrial Relations, and
to implement performance management systems.
Read "The Amendment Bill" here.
The Industrial Relations Amendment (Dispute Orders) Bill 2012.
The object of this Bill (summarised):
to increase the maximum monetary penalties for a contravention of a dispute order,
to enable costs to be awarded for a contravention of a dispute order,
to enable appeals to be made to the Court of Appeal on a question of law
to provide for the making of any necessary regulations
Read the "Industrial Relations Amendment (Dispute Orders) Bill 2012".
The Industrial Relations Amendment(Industrial Representation) Bill 2012.
Object of this Bill (summarised):
to enable industrial representation of the same classes or groups of employees by one or more industrial organisations or associations.
Read the "Industrial Relations Amendment(Industrial Representation) Bill 2012".
Accounting errors cost state billions.
"The NSW public service does not have enough senior bean counters, the Auditor-General has said, after finding billions of dollars worth of errors and 1256 mistakes in the state's financial records submitted last year."
It was left to the Greens MP, Jamie Parker, to make the obvious comment:
"The fact that agencies are submitting reports riddled with errors reflects systemic problems of mismanagement and chronic under-resourcing, which won't be solved by cutting jobs and public sector wages," he said
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 13 March 2012 "Billions of dollars worth of errors as hundreds of mistakes found in state's financial records, report finds".
Local Schools Local Decisions: a recipe for more cuts?
The O'Farrell government has announced that control over 70% of a school's budget plus matters such as maintenance and staffing will be handed over to the school Principal. As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, "The department will cut hundreds of head office jobs as it shifts responsibility to schools." The impact on school based jobs is unclear. Many PSA members fear job losses and increased pressure to work outside their job description. School autonomy will test the union leadership's resolve to protect the wages and conditions of school based staff. A series of PSA meetings is being organised at schools around the state. The Progressive PSA urges union members to attend and add their voices to calls for action to protect jobs and working conditions.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 12 March 2012, "Principals want more power but no strings."
Read the ABC News report, 12 March 2012, "Teachers scathing of public education overhaul."
Read more reports, here.
Trade and Investment jobs to go.
"The Director-General of Trade and Investment, Mark Paterson, is overseeing the restructure in a bid to meet the target of 5000 redundancies across the public service announced by the Treasurer, Mike Baird, in last year's budget."
PSA Assistant Secretary, Steve Turner, recently indicated to a meeting of delegates that the government's 5,000 job loss target is not much more than the usual level of job turnover in the public service. Even though this message was accompanied by a warning of worse to come in the 2012 budget such a blase attitude will not be welcomed by PSA members in Trade and Industry targetted for redundancy.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 10 March 2012 "Job pain for public service workers".
O'Farrell attacks public sector workers: where is the union action?.
"Public sector unions have warned of a wave of campaigns to oppose the O'Farrell government's latest changes to industrial relations laws, likely to be introduced to Parliament this week."
The changes include massively increased fines for 'unauthorised' strikes, an increased ability to sack public sector workers and competitive unionism where members can choose which union to join. Once again the Government is to blame for not consulting with unions about the proposed changes.
As indicated in the recent PSA Red Tape there is plenty of cheap talk of making 2012 “a perfect storm for the Government”. The lack of immediate union action to oppose these anti-union changes hampers our ability to effectively challenge O'Farrell.
The only definite action proposed in Red Tape is a small target strategy which includes a High Court challenge to O’Farrell’s industrial laws, a political challenge at election time and a mass rally later in the year after the new laws are introduced.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 6 March 2012 "Unions to fight O'Farrell's 'grossly unfair' industrial relations changes".
Business lobbyists: 'More support for business demanded.'
"Business has urged governments to undertake major reforms to unlock financing for public-private partnerships for critical infrastructure, including allowing tax breaks on projects.”
The new report by Baker and McKenzie urges the NSW Coaltition government to give more bailout provisions and other financial support for business:
"These include user charges, tax breaks and "availability payments" where investors are paid periodically regardless of the patronage levels of a project."
Read the Australian newspaper report,5 March 2012 "Report calls to shake up of public-private infrastructure financing".
NSW public sector wages fall behind.
Across Australia "Total hourly wages grew by 3.6 per cent last year, faster than consumer price inflation of 3.1 per cent.”
Average wages growth in NSW was even a bit better "wages grew by a robust 3.8 per cent". So writes Jessica Irvine, Sydney Morning Herald economics writer, based on Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. Thats good news unless you are a NSW public sector worker held back by a wages cap of 2.5 per cent.
Read the "ACTU Wages Report, February 2012".
Read the Australian Bureau of Statistics "Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, Nov 2011".
Read the ACTU wage and salary analysis, February 2012, "Wages Report".
Next round of O'Farrell attacks on workers announced.
"Premier Barry O'Farrell announced the changes in State Parliament yesterday, including an 11-fold increase to the fine for unions holding illegal strikes.”
"The Government will also have more power to sack public servants who do not have permanent jobs, and workers will be given more choice over which union they join."
Read the ABC News report, 24 February 2012 "Furious response to NSW IR changes".
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 24 February 2012 "O'Farrell aims to make unions pay for wildcat strikes".
Read the Nine MSN report, 23 February 2012 "Govt to attack public services: unions".
Union action needed on audit report.
"After spending most of last year attacking the workplace rights of nurses, police, firefighters and other public sector workers, the government is now considering removing staff ratios, degrading our public services and stamping out the rights of public sector workers," Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon said in a statement on Thursday”
Read the Sydney Morning Herald report, 23 February 2012 "Public sector in dock after review reveals systemic problems".
Read the full Audit report, "NSW Commission of Audit Interim Report: Public Sector Management".
O'Farrell public sector audit: more jobs and public ownership at risk.
"The State Government appointed former Sydney Water chief, Dr Kerry Schott last year to conduct a Commission of Audit to examine ways of making the public sector more efficient."
“A report has recommended an overhaul of the New South Wales public sector, along with more asset sales and changes to toll road arrangements.”
The review also recommends "changes to governance structures and work practices to provide greater flexibility in the deployment of staff."
Read the ABC News report, 22 February 2012 |
