DSC update - 10 April 2014

Congratulations – Our campaign to save DSC is having an impact.

Despite the announcement in January, of the first list of group homes to be privatised - It’s now mid-April, and no group homes have been privatised yet. This is proof that our campaign is having an impact and by working together with families and the community, members continue to demonstrate we can slow this privatisation and potentially even stop it.

Transmission of Business 

Some families have been led to believe that when a DSC group home is privatised, the DSC Social Trainers working there will stay on with the house and thus be transferred across to work for non-government direct service providers (DSOs). We have raised this matter with DSC and they have advised there will be no transfers of staff to DSOs. Furthermore, CEOs of DSOs were advised at a recent meeting that they may be liable to maintain public sector pay and wages to any State Government Social Trainers they engage, for a period of 5 years.

Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting 

Delegates who are on the Joint Consultative Council met with DSC management recently to raise a number of member concerns, amongst others, issues regarding swipe cards and leave.

Swipe cards

The current DSC Guidelines whereby members are being punished by being deducted a day’s pay if they don’t both swipe on and swipe off. DSC have committed to:

• Revisit the Swipe Card Guidelines, using an analysis of pay queries and variance forms, regarding deductions and related pay issues
• Follow up with ICT regarding swipe card issues and investigate lag in responses to emails sent to ASD payroll.

Excess Leave

Members have reported that they have been pressured in to cashing out leave balances:

• That in many instances, they are unable to actually take their excess leave as sufficient leave cover is not available.
• Some members have been pressured to book leave which has not yet accrued.

This is inconsistent with the recent memo from Wendy Cox regarding what DSC considers to be excess leave. Members should speak to their Delegate or call Unionlink for advice if they are feeling pressured or bullied in to cashing out leave. We will continue to raise member concerns and support members through this particularly unsettling time.

May Day Festival & March - 12 noon Sunday 4 May, 2014

The annual May Day festival, held on the Fremantle Esplanade, traditionally plays a large part in recognising the achievements of working people. Members are encouraged to attend and join the union march through Fremantle.

For more info visit: www.unionswa.com.au/may_day_2014