Australia's Science Forum

Is or has anyone gone to these meetings by the PSA. Regarding Job sercurty for us all? I have also sent a list of what we do. Please can any one add to this list. I on holiday mode, go back Monday, just feel someone else should take a look. Hopefully the PSA can stop us being moved. PLEASE help us all.

I ensure safe handling of all chemicals as per CSIS
I ensure safe handling of all acid as per CSIS
CSIS chemical safety in Schools came out 1999 I think.
I maintain the storeage of chemicals in their correct classes as per CSIS
I maintain the storeage of acids in their correct classes as per CSIS
I maintain labels are done for every bottle (Over 2000 in our case) are on the standard set out by WHS.
I also maintain the SDS safety data sheets are done for every hazard in the school.
I maintain the Whole school register for hazard goods, I very Large job.
I ensure the coloured dots are on every thing that goes into the class room (again from the CSIS)
I also ensure new teachers that just order items chemicals, that they can be used with the age group, via the coloured dots.
I maintain a shock of chemicals & acids so no one is with out a common chemical. We do not run out of supply.
I also maintain a supply of distilled water.
I order equipment as per needed.
I repair and maintain all Microscopes in our school. (again a large job)
I make sure all equipment is working and put away in the correct location ( or I can spend hours looking for an item)
I maintain the quailty of our specimens ( animals in perserative's )

As well as photo copying, maintaining past papers (our student use these a lot) Repairs on text books,

Hi Sue
What meeting have heard nothing in my area ????????????????????????

SAS Staff meetings your future – your say
SAS Staff meetings your future – your say 2014 (PDF version)

Local Schools, Local Decisions (LSLD) means major changes for SAS staffing in schools. The Department intends to have LSLD fully implemented in ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS by 2016. This could lead to greater use of casual staff, and less job security for SAS Staff.

The PSA is seeking feedback from members on their priority concerns regarding the upcoming changes and on the PSA proposal to upgrade the role of the School Administrative Manager.

Agenda topics for discussion at meetings:

upgrading the School Administrative Manager role;
career progression for SAS Staff; and
other priority concerns for members.
PLEASE NOTE
These meetings are for
MEMBERS ONLY
however, non- members are
encouraged to attend and join at the meeting.
Stronger Together
Join the PSA
a STRONG Union means job security, higher pay & better conditions.

Date Time Location
Mon 13 Oct 3:30pm Granville South HS (Common Room)
Mon 13 Oct 3:30pm Wyong PS (library)
Tue 14 Oct 3:30pm Kariong Mountains HS (see Reception)
Wed 15 Oct 3:30pm Jamieson HS Penrith (Library)
Wed 15 Oct 3:00pm Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, The Entrance Campus (see Reception)
Wed 15 Oct 3.30pm Campbelltown RSL (see Reception)
Thu 16 Oct 3.30pm Tradies at Gymea (see Reception)
Thu 16 Oct 3:30pm St Ives HS (Common Room Admin Block)
Thu 16 Oct 3:30pm Blaxland HS (see Reception)
Mon 20 Oct 3:30pm Westmead PS (Lecture Theatre)
Mon 20 Oct 3:30pm Brisbane Waters Secondary College, Umina Campus (see Reception)
Tue 21 Oct 3:30pm Marsden HS (see Reception)
Tue 21 Oct 3:30pm Cecil Hills HS (Library)
Tue 21 Oct 3:30pm Fassifern PS (Library)
Wed 22 Oct 3:30pm Baulkham Hills North PS (see Reception)
Wed 22 Oct 3:30pm Bidwill PS (see Reception)
Wed 22 Oct 3.30pm Georges River College, Oatley Senior Campus (Common Room)
Thu 23 Oct 3:30pm Bankstown PS (Common Room 2)
Thu 23 Oct 3:30pm Winston Hills PS (see Reception)
Thu 23 Oct 3:30pm Lake Macquarie HS (Staff Common Room)
Tue 28 Oct 3:30pm Riverstone HS (Library)
Wed 29 Oct 3:30pm Dulwich Hill Visual Arts HS (Staff Common Room)
Thu 30 Oct 3:30pm Miller Technology HS (Multipurpose Room, First Floor – A Block)


JOIN the PSA online
membership.psa.asn.au/join

Hi Labbie
when you say "stop us being moved" what do you mean? I feel that the lab tech is a specialised position and you can not have a casual person in the role really. There needs to be a person there looking after all the labels, SDS ordering etc. I notice on the agenda you listed çareer progression for SASS staff. This certainly does not promote career progression really - if you are casual.
Adrianna

Yes I know Adrianna, but they are starting to move people around, I have a lady since term 2, she is only her own on a Wed, while I am in the front office. They tell me, because I am on the school grounds and not away. They can do this. PSA supports this also. But in the last few days, their has been a few near misses so to speak, I do not know details. So they (PSA) are looking into to it all again.

Here in Vic, I am now an ES (Educational Support), I am no longer employed under a lab tech or technical officer label. This means there is no specific job security, despite being here in this role for over 20 years. I was originally employed as a laboratory technician, then I became a school technical officer (STO), then I was a school services officer (SSO). A couple of years ago there was a bit of a shake up and I was lumped in with another ES (Admin) and told I was not employed as a technician but as an ES and thus the school was over entitlement with the 2 of us and to keep my job I had to take a time fraction cut or the job would be advertised and I would have to apply for it. The principal can shift me around anywhere she choses within the ES positions.

Yes that is correct MTG, we are SAO School Admin Officers, While I work in Science by name badge says SAO not Lab manager or Lab tech. It is coming to us all in Australia so I have been told. This is the start of some meetings with PSA, to try and stop this for science if we can.

I am school support staff (school assistant L3).
Beginning of this year paymaster sent me letter stating I am now "early child care worker L3, and taking $14000 pa pay cut.
First I laughed, but then it become serious, as I had to proof that I was actually SA L3. I keep all my signed contracts, so it was easy, but the fact that they "had no proof of this contract" really scared me.

It is totally ridiculous. We have such an important job, we deal with life threatening chemicals and equipment day in and day out. And while in this I'm recognised and appreciated by my teachers, to new management I'm still just educational support and have no rights......until there is a chemical spill or other science accident. Then I'm the expert!!! and probably liable if I haven't crossed all the T's and dotted all the I's.

I could not agree more with you MTG.

Hi Lada are you in a DET school? This is all very worrying, especially for us Lab Techs who have qualifications - as we obviously like lab work enough to study for it. I have worked in DET schools where many of the SAOs did not know how to type, let alone turn on a computer. I suppose the ratio of lab techs to SAOs is very small and we do not '"earn the school money" as do the office ladies who do the absences etc. The schools seem to change the rules and then you are told via your new contract that things have changed and suddenly you are on stand down on student free days and your pay is not averaged any longer and on it goes.

So I am told, the meetings were to see people feelings regarding a Business Manager, they would share out the work that needs to be done, while the SAM gets on with her work, finance. The Business Manager would also see to the rotation of their staff, so every one gets to learn each others job. At this stage the Business Manager does not get any extra pay for this. Honesty its a joke, its got to be.

So its 'the blind leading the blind' . So much for qualifications. You go to he PD days on labelling and teach the others. Most don't know what chemicals are what. " Just don't touch the Sodium!" " Whats sodium I hear them ask.

YES, we have had a meeting in Dubbo,but it was really just to get an idea of how we all feel about the changes that are certainly coming our way in 2016.No one has a clear direction about SASS staff in DET schools yet, not the union and not the department.
The union rep. was mostly interested in the SAM's position i.e. is she experienced enough to be able to sit in the new position of Business Manager or will it be advertised in such a way that outside finance people can apply?
By-the-way the department is agreeable for all schools to have Business Managers !!!!! This approach scares the hell out of me. Much more unrest is coming, believe me. This is just the beginning.
Does the future of job security look bleak? I would say so.
Mother