Halinda SSP staff have achieved staffing betterments.

Strike threat wins staffing betterments for SSP

By Henry Rajendra

Federation members at Halinda SSP have achieved staffing betterments that will significantly improve occupational health and safety and support the quality teaching and learning programs for all students.

Halinda SSP, located in the Mt Druitt School Education Area, caters for children with high support needs, however, the school's global budget allocation was inadequate in dealing with the needs of all students.

The school applied for additional funds including 250 days of teacher aide support time for semester 1, as early as term 4, 2003 to deal with specific children with challenging behaviours. An adequate response was not forthcoming from the Department of Education and Training (DET).

Federation Representative Michelle Micallef wrote to Education Minister Dr Andrew Refshauge late in term 1 requesting his immediate intervention to resolve this matter.

Like the DET, Dr Refshauge failed to provide an adequate response. Federation members were left with no choice but to threaten industrial action. They indicated the industrial action would take place in term 2 with all media outlets briefed.

In response, DET offered less than half of what the school demanded. This was clearly not enough and Dr Refshauge and DET were informed that Federation members remained committed to their campaign.

Prior to the scheduled industrial action, Ms Micallef was informed that their demands would be met. As a result, Federation members called off the action.

However, Ms Micallef wrote to the Minister stating that their members would not hesitate to threaten industrial action again in the event the Government does not provide adequate resources for their school.

Halinda SSP's campaign, and that of Niland and Lawrence Hargrave schools previously, is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved by taking the fight directly to the Government and the DET.

Halinda SSP Federation members, acting on behalf of the occupational health and saftey needs of all and the learning needs of their students, are to be congratulated on a successful campaign.

Henry Rajendra is the Membership Officer/Organiser.

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