PSA/CPSU News. Wednesday 12 September

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1 Page 1 of 5 Les Carr - PSA/CPSU NEWS Wednesday September 12 From: "PSA NEWS" <psanews@psa.asn.au> To: <lcarr@psa.asn.au> Date: 13/09/2012 3:09 AM Subject: PSA/CPSU NEWS Wednesday September 12 Today s news items are: PSA/CPSU News Wednesday 12 September PSA President Sue Walsh s speech to 2012 PSA Women s Conference Venues for October 8 Stop Work meetings Education cuts right across the state system PSA supports better investigation of Lyme Disease-like illness protest on Friday TAFE ballot 93 percent vote Yes PSA s High Court challenge PSA President Sue Walsh s speech to 2012 PSA Women s Conference Sue s speech gives a good run-down of the many reasons we are having a stop work meeting on October 8. It covers topics such as: Barry O'Farrell's appalling record on women a summary of the O'Farrell Government's many assaults on public services the government s cap on pay and stripping of working conditions and allowances. Sue s speech is on the PSA s homepage at Venues for October 8 Stop Work meetings A list of venues will be published on the PSA website tonight. It will be linked to the homepage at

2 Page 2 of 5 The list is not final. There may be some more venues added. A final list will be published next Thursday. We will send it to all members for whom we have and home addresses. If need be you can update your details via the web at Education cuts right across the state system Yesterday the O Farrell government announced the biggest slash to education since the Greiner Liberal-National Government 20 years ago. Jobs to go are: 800 in TAFE, spread across the 10 institutes includes general staff and teachers school-based administrative and support staff 600 staff from Department of Education state and regional offices, including non-school-based teachers. TAFE students will also face a 9.5 percent increase in course fees. And all state funding of fine arts will cease. Private sector training will be affected scrapping of the Joint Training Scheme could affect up to 8,000 apprentices and trainees. Private school funding has been restricted which will translate into some job losses. The reaction from education and industry bodies appear to be unanimously against the cuts. You can find more detail relating to PSA members in John Cahill s two media releases and the bulletin to school members:- O'Farrell announces large cuts to school & other education staff - schools bulletin TAFE cuts will hit NSW skills, regional areas - media release O Farrell dismantles school support infrastructure - media release Mark Lennon at Unions NSW summed it up,.. the job cuts and fee hike would tear away at the education system and pose a significant disincentive for potential students.

3 Page 3 of 5 The O'Farrell Government has turned its back on the future.. at a time when NSW should be investing in the skill base of its population. PSA supports better investigation of Lyme's Disease-like illness protest on Friday Members working in National Parks are being exposed to diseases spread by ticks. This issue has become very important to the members doing field based activities in NPWS. We are aware of 3 Rangers and 4 Field Officers who are severely affected by an unrecognised pathogen causing Lyme's disease like symptoms. Government Health Authorities deny the existence of Lyme's in Australia, despite it being found on every major continent including Antarctica. Medical professionals have incorrectly diagnosed what is causing the disease in individuals. Victims of this unrecognised pathogen have had confirmation of Lyme's Disease from blood tests conducted in America and have responded to drug and supplement treatment used in the treatment of Lymes. However they are having to fund most of these expenses without subsidy from the PBS scheme or through workers compensation. On Friday there will be a protest outside the offices of NSW Health to publicise the issue. PSA General Secretary John Cahill has written to Unions NSW asking them to support the protest and its aims. Members of the PSA, other unions, and the general public are invited to show their support for more research and improved treatments. Lyme's Disease Protest 4.00pm, Friday 14 September Outside NSW Health 73 Miller St, North Sydney Members are encouraged to make donations to the Karl McManus Foundation to support their endeavours: to facilitate research and raise awareness of Lyme disease (borreliosis and co-infections) and other tick-borne diseases in Australia. advocate for better testing and treatment of borreliosis and co-infections.

4 Page 4 of 5 educate doctors and other health professionals about Lyme disease (borreliosis) and co-infections in Australia. use the media to alert the public about Lyme disease (Borreliosis) and coinfections in Australia. publicise that there is a potential to misdiagnose Lyme (Borreliosis) as with many other serious chronic diseases independent scientific research, raise the awareness of Lyme Disease and other tick borne illnesses More information and donations can be made by following this link TAFE ballot 93 percent vote Yes The ballot for the new TAFE Commission of NSW Administrative, Support And Related Employees Enterprise Agreement 2012 closed on Sunday night. The result of the ballot is: 3038 out of 6388 staff or 47.6% of staff voted 2825 out of 3038 staff or 92.99% of staff voted yes 213 out of 3038 staff or 7.01% of staff voted no. This is the first TAFE agreement negotiated under the Fair Work Australia jurisdiction. TAFE employees were previously covered by state awards such as the Public Service Salaries Award. During negotiations TAFE management tried to exclude working conditions in the agreement. The PSA/CPSU bargaining team refused to accept this and initially advised members to vote NO to the proposal that TAFE wanted to put to a vote of employees. TAFE were forced back to the negotiating table and then forced to include the working conditions we wanted. That was a massive WIN for the unions and for TAFE workers as the agreement will now entrench all existing conditions of employment for TAFE staff. PSA s High Court challenge The PSA s challenge tom the O Farrell Government s pay capping legislation was heard by a Full bench of the High Court last week, September 5.

5 Page 5 of 5 Their decision was reserved. We do not have a date for when the decision will be handed down. This is a normal procedure. We just have to be patient. Update your membership details: Ask non-members to join the PSA/CPSU - Online at To switch to direct payment of PSA/CPSU - Online at or ring or for more info. To subscribe to PSA/CPSU News, reply to psanews@psa.asn.au with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. You can subscribe with your work and/or home addresses To unsubscribe from PSA/CPSU News list, reply to psanews@psa.asn.au with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Public Service Association of NSW & Community & Public Sector Union 160 Clarence St, Sydney GPO Box 3365 Sydney or psa@psa.asn.au Les Carr Senior Communications Officer (direct tel) lcarr@psa.asn.au