News Flash

The Public Service Association of South Australia (PSA) has been notified by Department for Families and Communities (DFC) representatives that the Families SA Adoption and Family Information Services and Post Care Services (AFIS/PCS) will be restructured and disbanded, resulting in the loss of a number of positions, including the Manager and Business Manager positions.

It is the PSA's view that the Department for Families and Communities (DFC) has breached Clause 25 (Consultative Processes) of the South Australian Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2010. Particularly;

5.1.2      "Employers and Agencies consult in good faith, not simply advise what will     be done."

25.1.4     " Workplace change that will affect a significant number of employees should     not be implemented before appropriate consultation has occurred with         employee representatives."

PSA members employed in this unit met on Thursday 8 July and passed the following motion:

"This meeting of PSA members employed in AFIS/PCS, Families SA are outraged at the decision announced by the Executive Director, Families SA that the AFIS/PCS will be restructured and "disbanded", resulting in the loss of up to 5 positions, including the Manager and Business Manager, because of the government's decision to cut $750 million from the state budget.

This decision shows complete disregard for the high quality of current integrated service delivery and the welfare of clients, including people hoping to adopt a child, adoptive families and adults who were previously under the Guardianship of the Minister or placed in out of home care, and the psychological impact of the decision on staff.

Therefore, members direct the PSA to lodge a dispute with DFC due to a breach of Clause 25 (Consultative Processes) of the South Australian Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2010 and to arrange an urgent meeting with Minister Rankine so that members may inform her of the serious implications of the funding cuts, and subsequent loss of staff, for families in South Australia."

The PSA will keep members informed of its progress in this matter.

8 July 2010