News Flash

The PSA has received feedback from a number of SSOs and ECWs who consider they meet the requirements for conversion of temporary employment to permanent employment but have not been considered for conversion by DECS.

The eligibility criteria is per the South Australian Education Staff (Government Preschools and Schools) Arbitrated Enterprise Bargaining Award 2010. Generally the conversion applies to existing temporary employees providing the employee has more than 2 years service and at least 15 hours were worked per week across one or more sites in the previous two years of employment.

DECS appear to be applying very stringent guidelines to the eligibility criteria and are also defining temporary employees as a person employed for a specific purpose of limited duration provided they are engaged for more than two school terms and at least 15 hours per week.

In particular the PSA is concerned about SSOs and ECWs who have a mix of temporary and permanent hours or who have worked brief periods as a casual in the past two years or who have worked brief periods for less than 15 hours per week in the past two years (ie the first two weeks at the commencement of the new school year).

The PSA wrote to the Chief Executive of DECS in September 2010 about our concerns with the conversion process.

The PSA contends that it would clearly be very unfair for SSOs and ECWs to be disadvantaged due to an inappropriate interpretation and application of the eligibility criteria.

The South Australian Industrial Relations Commission when handing down the Decision 2 findings was critical of the broader structural workforce problem within DECS as it relates to SSOs and ECWs. In particular the IRC was critical of the temporary and insecure nature of SSO and ECW employment. It is clear the Commission wanted a fair and just conversion of SSOs and ECWs to permanent employment.

On 3 November 2010 the PSA wrote to the Minister for Education requesting resolution to the conversion to permanency issues.

On 9 November 2010 at one of the regular meetings the PSA has with DECS HR it was stated that the scope for conversion to permanency is being extended to include SSOs and ECWs who have had some casual employment in the past two years providing they meet all the other conversion eligibility criteria. SSOs and ECWs who have some weeks with less than 15 hours per week will also be considered on a case by case basis.

DECS HR however were clear that it would not consider any SSOs or ECWs that currently have some permanent hours regardless of their mix. The PSA stated that this was not acceptable and would continue to pursue this matter.

DECS are currently sending letters of offer to all SSOs and ECWs whose temporary hours have been identified for conversion to permanent employment.

If you consider you were eligible for conversion, or you are an SSO/ECW who currently has a mix of permanent and temporary hours and you do not receive an offer from DECS, the PSA would like to hear from you. The PSA will be representing its members and requests all SSOs/ECWs who are PSA members and have not received an offer to provide the following detail either by email to tcs@cpsu.asn.au or fax to 8223 6509 marked for the attention Ted Szarek:

• Your PSA member number

• Your name

• School/s you work at

• Preferred phone contact number (can be your mobile)

• Total hours you work per week (or your average for the past two years if your hours have been varied)

• Why you believe you have not been considered for conversion of temporary employment to permanent employment

The PSA requires the above response by Friday 26 November 2010.

Members should also complete the DECS proforma titled “Request Form – Self Identification” and forward to DECS by Monday 29 November 2010 via the fax number shown on the proforma. The proforma can be downloaded from the DECS website at:

http://www.decs.sa.gov.au/HR1/files/links/Request_Form_Template__Emp.pdf

Please contact PSA Industrial Officers Ted Szarek on 8205 3213 or Alan Wheeldon on 8205 3204 should you have any queries.

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