Crisis Response Unit (CRU) members met at 3 pm today (Friday 10 October) and resolved to implement work bans from 7 am Monday 13th October 2008. That meeting passed the following resolution:

This meeting notes that no significant progress has been made by the Department to address outstanding concerns and resolves to implement the following action from 7. 00 am on Monday 13th October 2008:

Work to Rule.

Common lunch-breaks on the Child Abuse Report Line.

Ban on use of the night-shift relief roster.

A ban on Ministerials and the provision of briefings to the Executive.

Ban on filling out of log-sheets.

Resolves to meet again on Friday 24 October to consider additional industrial action unless the following demands are met:

All vacant CRU positions are filled.

PO1s at the step 4 level are able to apply for progression to PO2

The Department provides a commitment that all vacancies over one month are to be filled for the length of the vacancy and not on a short-term basis.

Earlier on Friday, the PSA met with Department for Families and Communities (DFC) representatives to seek a response to CRU members demands endorsed on 26 September. Those demands relate to workload, a lack of resources generally and inadequate recruitment and retention processes. The PSA was represented by Industrial Officers Ken Smith and Jean-Guy Townsend, CRU Worksite Representative Charles Reimer and CRU members Anne Munro and Lauren Miegel. The DFC representation was led by Natalie Hamood DFC Director Human Resources and Steve Ramsey Families SA Deputy Executive Director.

As before, the Department advised that this was a Government resourcing issue and that they were unable to offer immediate additional staff without reducing resources in other areas of Families SA but would consider other suggestions put by the PSA.

The PSA is aware that issues raised by CRU members exist across the Department and particularly in District Centres. A report on the CRU action will be provided to Families SA Worksite Representatives on Tuesday 14 October and the PSA is looking to arrange meetings of members in District Centres to assess workloads and staffing adequacy.

Enquiries to PSA Industrial Officers Ken Smith on 8205 3231 or at ks@cpsu.asn.au or Jean-Guy Townsend on 8205 3233 or at jgt@cpsu.asn.au

PSA WORKING FOR MEMBERS IN FAMILIES SA