January 1999 Volume 80 Number 1 "serving the protectors"
Industrial Front
By Mark Carroll

Local Service Area

At the time of writing (7.12.98) the Association is concerned at the lack of detail being provided by SAPOL relative to the implementation of Local Service Areas. SAPOL has yet to advise PASA of which positions will actually be deleted and who this will effect. Further, SAPOL is yet to state what the population of the organisation will be in the new structure. Will we have more or fewer police in 1999 than we do now? It is a challenging time presently and we ask members to contact PASA with any grievances that may occur out of the implementation process.

Travel Claims

The Association has had preliminary discussions with SAPOL in an effort to clarify the issue of travel claims. Country members have informed us that when required to leave their stations for an overnight stay in Adelaide (or when metropolitan members performing duties in country areas on specific policing objectives) they are required to reside in cheap and sometimes sub-standard accommodation. Alternatively, they are required to take their own food, or share quarters with others. On one occasion, members who finished duties in a country location around 3:00am had to be out of the hotel before 10:00am so an extra night's accommodation did not have to be paid. It is fair to say that these members did not get too much sleep between shifts, let alone the implications of the OHS&W Act and requisite duty of care to the employee.

The reason for these occurrences appears budget driven. The interpretation of allowances is also different between divisions and stations. PASA has asked Employee Relations to develop a set of instructions that are universal throughout the organisation. Members should take the time to appraise themselves of their entitlements and not accept less than is their legal right.

EB - Allowance in Lieu of Penalties for CIB

The enterprise bargaining agreement includes a clause relative to CIB rosters. It states that, in the three-month period from the commencement of this agreement, the parties will examine the feasibility of introducing an allowance in lieu of shift penalties and overtime for CIB investigators who are shiftworkers.

PASA has formed a working party with members of the Crime Command Branch of the Association, and is preparing its position relative to the forthcoming negotiations.

PASA acknowledges that this issue is of major concern to the CIB, and we will keep members apprised of developments.

Delegate Elections

New delegates take up their positions as at 1 January 1999 for a two-year term. Congratulations to those successful applicants. Training will commence shortly and you will be advised of course times.

Thank you to outgoing delegates. Your support is invaluable to PASA.

Current Branch presidents should organise a meeting of the branch to welcome new delegates and fulfil their obligation of meeting at least twice a year per the Association constitution.

Relieving Higher Duties

SAPOL has advised that members required to relieve in higher duties will relieve at the lowest increment level of that particular rank. For example, if you are a senior constable on increment 2 and are required to relieve in a sergeant's position, you will relieve at sergeant increment 1. The time spent relieving will be aggregated from 19.11.98. The more time you spend relieving will eventually allow you to move to a higher increment level.

SAPOL has also stated that members may relieve at higher increment levels in "exceptional circumstances". PASA has requested this term be defined to assist members in determining if they fit into this category.

Constables on increment 11 who are required to relieve in a senior constable position will do so at senior constable increment 2.