The Public Service Association (PSA) received a tremendous amount of feedback from the membership in relation to the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology(DFEEST) proposal of introducing 42 week ASO contracts.

Members were overwhelmingly concerned that this proposal clearly demonstrates the DFEEST's lack of understanding and recognition of the frontline and support services that ASO members provide. Every submission that was received by the PSA indicated that members were already working under high or unreasonable workloads. This will be taken up by the PSA separate to this issue.

This is a summary of the feedback submitted to DFEEST:

• Due to the Shared Business Service and Program and Campus Services restructures, workloads are high and unreasonable. Therefore any further reduction in front line or support roles would be unacceptable.

• Campuses remain open during term holidays, except two weeks during the Christmas and New Year period, and any reduction in services will negatively impact on service delivery and members' workloads.

• During term holidays, members perform many direct service functions such as enrolling new students, SATAC admissions, mailing out results and Certificates etc. Any reduction in staffing will significantly impact on service delivery and member workloads.

• Members continue to notice the job cuts of lower classified positions and the increase in senior positions.

• Should new or existing staff accept the proposed contracts the impact on workloads will be negative, once again members are being asked "to do more with less".

• Members expressed their concern at the potential to be coerced or forced into agreeing to the new contracts.

A meeting has been called to further discuss this proposal with DFEEST. The PSA seeks to have two Worksite Representatives present at this meeting. Would those interested in attending please nominate via email.

If you have any questions or concerns that you would like raised please contact PSA Industrial Officers Jean-Guy Townsend on 8205 3233 email jgt@cpsu.asn.au or Alan Wheeldon on 8205 3204 email avw@cpsu.asn.au