MEDIA STATEMENT: 200 Jobs Cut As Part of Education Department Restructure

• 188 positions abolished
• 200 staff targeted for a wave of forced redundancies
• 170 redeployed staff pressured to surrender their jobs under the Voluntary Targeted Severance Scheme (VTSS) (Only 70 of which are affected by the 188 positions lost)

The Community Public Sector Union/ Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA) who represent support staff working at the Department of Education, have condemned the Department of Education’s plans to axe 200 positions and not extend contracts for much needed staff just before Christmas.

CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary Toni Walkington said the Department of Education’s announcement could not have come at a worse time for hundreds of staff affected by the decision.

“The Department have confirmed they were changing the Department’s overall organisational structure to accommodate the Government’s headcount reduction goal and as a result plan to abolish hundreds of substantive positions."

The list of roles to be axed include: project officers, administration assistants, managers, support officers, health and safety specialists, Aboriginal education coordinators and regulatory officers.

“Less administration assistants will mean more time teachers need to spend at the desk rather than developing lesson plans and teaching West Australian children,” says Branch Secretary, Toni Walkington.

“It is also unthinkable that this government is seriously considering cutting occupational safety and health staff from WA schools. Some of these schools, especially in regional WA, have ongoing asbestos concerns which need to be managed for staff and children’s safety.”

In addition, Aboriginal education and liaison positions feature highly on the list of positions to be lost.

“These highly trained Aboriginal public sector staff are essential for ensuring Aboriginal children get proper access to education. They are integral for the running of the schools and the long-term reduction of Aboriginal clients in corrective services and child protection services.

“Just a few weeks ago, Education Minister Sue Ellery denied substantial job cuts and said there would be no forced redundancies. This week, the Department has let 200 staff know that’s not true,” says Branch Secretary, Toni Walkington.

A mass member’s meeting will take place outside the Department’s East Perth office on Thursday 7 December, with members to express their extreme disappointment and frustration at the McGowan Government’s broken promises.

“Reducing public sector staff providing valuable services to West Australians doesn’t make sense, for service delivery or for the WA economy.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrei Buters - 0421 934 794