March 2000 Volume 81 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
By Mark Carroll PASA Assistant Secretary

Enterprise Bargaining

The current enterprise agreement will expire in November 2000. Enterprise agreements are limited by legislation to be of a maximum two-year length. At the annual conference in October 1999, Police Association delegates moved a series of motions relative to formulating a claim for EB3. The association has also been working with a number of groups in an effort to clearly identify issues that need progressing at the next round of negotiations.

If you have a view or want to be involved, now is the time to act. You should contact your local workplace delegate and inform the delegate of your views. You may wish to attend a branch meeting and involve yourself through the auspices of the branch system and structure. Alternatively, you may wish to forward your views to me in writing.

Police Positions

The Police Association recently notified a dispute in the South Australian Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) as a result of SAPOL deciding to relieve a police position with a civilian. The association took this course of action after first attempting to negotiate a settlement with SAPOL. The decision to relieve a police position with a civilian remained and a voluntary conference in the IRC was called.

The association did not believe it was lawful for SAPOL to place a civilian into a police position. Further, it is incumbent on the association to protect the policing industry and those functions that have been determined to be policing roles.

At the voluntary conference, Commissioner Fairweather indicated to SAPOL that it would be in the best interests of all to relieve police positions with police officers. This matter was adjourned sine die and can be called on again in the future under similar circumstances.

If members become aware of police positions being relieved by civilians in any part of SAPOL, they should contact the association immediately.

Equity Policy

PASA delegates ratified the Police Association’s equity policy at the 1999 annual conference. PASA, as both a union representing members and an employer, has an obligation to ensure that all workplaces are free from interpersonal abuse of any kind. Such abusive behaviour will include:

• Sexual harassment.
• Inequality.
• Bullying.
• Racism.
• Victimization.

To this end, PASA’s equity policy has been promulgated to provide a guide to the behaviour that is expected in the workplace. The procedures are equally applicable to:

• Member-to-member behaviours.
• Member-to-staff (PASA) behaviours.
• Staff-to-member behaviours.
• Staff-to-staff behaviours.

Your workplace delegate has a copy of the policy.

Higher Duties Follow Up

As a result of last month’s article a number of members have queried whether they have been underpaid for the duties they have been performing. These issues have been communicated to SAPOL and both organizations attempt to negotiate a settlement in the first instance. I again stress that, if you believe you are performing a role or function that is classified at a higher rank than you are being paid for, then you should ask your employer to make a determination on higher duties remuneration. If the employer fails to do so, contact PASA.

PASAweb   Index & Search   Top of Page   Comments   Email to Editor

The Police Journal Online is an official publication of the Police Association of South Australia and is published monthly. Editors of kindred publications can seek permission from the Editor to re-publish any Police Journal Online article. Copyright 1999  The Police Association of South Australia sustance