Does DEECD Really Expect the Students to Improve?
Co-location has been the bugbear of all our Student Services Officers since the school year recommenced and when CPSU Organisers visited SSSO co-located worksites in the Eastern Region recently including Forest Hill College, Templestowe College, Brandon Park Primary School, Pembroke Primary School and Upwey Primary School the conditions for our specialists were at best third world.
 

SSSO s have only recently been co-located, leading to a number of significant issues and CPSU was recently contacted by School Student Services Officers members in the Eastern Region regarding working in indoor temperatures of up to 35c.

OHS issues were identified across all five co-located sites in the Eastern Region.

These included:

• Excessive heat ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ room temperatures of up to 35c were recorded with average temperatures of 30c on hot days
• Overcrowding ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ two SSSO s to a desk with up to three at Forest Hill
• Lack of privacy when advising clients ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ ‚Äö√Ñ√∫call centre‚Äö√Ñ√π environments impeding SSSOs ability to conduct confidential and sensitive conversations

OHS issues specific to each site were also identified. These included:

• Poor or no proper access to kitchen facilities including limited access to clean drinking water
• Inadequate toilet facilities
• Trip hazards
• Sun-glare
• Poor storage and filing facilities
• Hazards such as stairs preventing safe carrying of equipment

Other issues identified included:

• Lack of basic tools of trade including computers and telephones
• Lack of basic stationery
• Inadequate travel allowance

These issues have been communicated to management however little if any action has occurred.

CPSU will be organising a meeting for all Eastern Region SSSO s to discuss these issues in more detail – information about when and where this will be will be distributed shortly.

CPSU intends to take these issues up with management yet again.

In the meantime CPSU encourages you to download the “Working in Seasonal Heat” document for tips on working in excessive heat - http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/WorkinginSeasonalHeat.pdf

CPSU members have been keeping records of air temperature at each location - continue to do this by recording a mid morning and mid afternoon reading each day.

SSSO s may also be interested to read the Work Safe Victoria publication “Officewise – A Guide to Health & Safety in the Office”

http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/f04aac804071f4459b0fdfe1fb554c40/officewise.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

CPSU wishes to hear from SSSO s in other regions to ascertain whether or not they face the same, or similar, issues.

Please contact CPSU Industrial Officer, Nick Church, by email nchurch@cpsuvic.org or by phone (03) 9413 6651.

Please distribute this bulletin and ask your colleagues to join CPSU to have their voice heard and their views represented.

Our 7 day a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year industrial protection ensures you have the principal public sector organisation looking after your working rights, winning wage increases, protecting your conditions, and providing personal industrial assistance when you need it.


CPSU MEMBERSHIP IS PROTECTION FOR YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. YOUR JOB.

Speak to a colleague today about the benefits of CPSU membership and have them contribute to our successes rather than just enjoying the benefits.


CPSU - 125 in 2010.

When 1,000 colonial public servants crammed into the Athenaeum Hall in Collins Street on 17 June 1885 to form the Victorian Public Service Association they had no idea that we d be still here and turning 125 this year.


TOGETHER WE DO BETTER!
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/Work-Can-Change-membership-flyer.pdf
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/memform.pdf


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary

15 February 2010