Police officers might have to charge to a life-and-death emergency
one moment and, later in their shift, pore over seemingly endless
paperwork. These heroic men and women bear a heavy – and sometimes
costly – burden in the course of their police lives. But their working
conditions and entitlements are always in the minds of their equally
heroic colleagues, the Police Association delegates.
With 70-plus years’ tradition behind them, members of this unpaid
body of fighters for police officers’ industrial rights respond
to the call day or night. Possibly summoned in the middle of the
night, a delegate could find himself or herself arranging crucial
PASA representation for a workmate.
PASA’s new delegate structure provides a total of 60 positions
throughout the state, and covers each workplace. Only one position
remains unfilled.
The spread of delegates – from Kim Williams on the West Coast (Ceduna)
to Andrew Jaunay in the Far North (Coober Pedy) and Andy Mclean
in the South East (Mount Gambier) – illustrates just how well PASA
has the state covered.
Every day, delegates from across the state contact the Police Association
to relay industrial grievances, which include: staffing, leave,
relieving higher duties, shift changes, workplace changes, pay,
conditions and entitlements.
Delegates’ other duties include:
- Representation of members in the workplace.
- Representation of members and PASA on local workplace consultative
committees.
- Representation of members and PASA through close liaison with
local workplace OHS&W representatives.
- Informing PASA on all important matters that occur within their
workgroups.
- Informing members in their workgroups about PASA business.
- Initiating – through discussions with SAPOL representatives
– resolutions for all issues referred to them by members in their
workgroups. (Issues unresolvable through such discussions are
referred to the secretary.)
- Attendance at branch meetings or the arrangement of a proxy.
- Attendance at delegates’ meetings.
- Attendance at PASA training.
- Attendance at annual conference and reporting on issues that
affect their branches.
- The submission and amending of motions, instigated by branches
and for the consideration of the secretary at least 28 days before
the annual conference (in the third week of October).
Branch chairman
For each of their branches, delegates nominate a chairman to:
- Convene branch meetings.
- Keep order and proper conduct at branch meetings.
- Stimulate discussion on relevant issues raised at branch meetings.
- Help formulate and move motions.
Branch secretary
For each of their branches, delegates nominate a secretary to
assist the chairman by:
- Preparing agenda for meetings.
- Organizing an appropriate time and venue for meetings to maximize
attendances.
- Taking responsibility for advising members of meetings.
- Taking minutes and providing copies for distribution.
- Completing for and forwarding to PASA Summary of Branch Meeting
forms.
- Maintaining a file which contains all notes and minutes pertaining
to the branch.
Your delegate has just attended the Police Association annual delegates’
conference – on your behalf.
It might seem curious to some that these officers willingly take
on a role which can – and sometimes does – bring them into conflict
with management.
But these are people motivated by the scourge of industrial injustice;
and each holds to an unshakeable belief in the rightness and nobility
of the association cause. So never do they deviate from the goal
of fair industrial outcomes for their colleagues.
PASA delegates are, at the very least, worthy of your thanks and
support. Take the time to express your appreciation for their interest
in, and care for, the most important person in the world – you.
