DET wants to privatise school GAs

Date: 28 April 2009

The Department of Education and Training has proposed that General Assistants in Schools be privatised.

At this stage the Education Minister has not signed off on the proposals, has agreed there should be further discussions with the PSA, but has not ruled out privatisation.

Here are the main points made in a report to General Assistants by PSA President Sue Walsh.

It was agreed that these issues would be addressed through the Department's Maintenance Reform Program. The Program included 12 projects, one being Site Management. The Department's project team was to identify alternative options for site management.

Instead of using this opportunity to enhance the role of General Assistants, the Department advised the PSA that their preferred option is for school General Assistants to be privatised.

Following the meeting Sue Walsh contacted the Minister's office to arrange an urgent meeting to discuss the department's proposal. The General Secretary, John Cahill, Assistant General Secretary, Steve Turner, Senior Industrial Officer, Kris Cruden and President, Sue Walsh met with the Honourable Verity Firth this week in order to address the serious issue of privatisation.

The Minister gave the assurance that "it won't happen without further discussion with the PSA". The Minister did not rule out privatising the work of General Assistants.

The PSA opposes any form of privatisation of state government employees and will fight vigorously to retain the employment of General Assistants in NSW Government Schools. Privatising General Assistants will lead to job losses, lack of security and deterioration of schools which will impact on staff and students.

The General Assistants working party met yesterday by teleconference to begin a campaign to stop this privatisation. They have started by recommending immediate bans on unpaid overtime and an immediate start to lobbying the informing of the teachers, principals, parents and the wider community. Further actions will be planned and acted upon.

For further information

Contact:	Sue Walsh, PSA President
Union:	Public Service Association of NSW
Phone:	9220 0935
Contact Mobile:	0419 691 103
WWW:	http://psa.labor.net.au/

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