By Melanie Sjoberg
ADELAIDE — The state Liberal government handed down its second budget on June 1. The reaction from trade unions and some community groups to massive public sector funding cuts, slashing of staff and outsourcing has been sporadic and uncoordinated.
The Centre for Labour Studies strongly criticised the government budget strategy, suggesting that the public sector cutbacks are hindering economic growth by reducing employment and leading to population loss. This is borne out by the latest national indicators showing the SA economy shrinking 1.5% while the other states were growing an average 3.5%.
The budget papers proudly announce that "reductions in the public sector workforce are integral to achieving the government's central budget target of eliminating the underlying deficit in the non commercial sector". Some 9200 jobs have been lost from the state public sector in the past three years, and a further 3200 are about to be cut. Various public sector agencies receive arbitrary numbers of staffing cuts, then arbitrarily allocate these to 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳. The people who carry out the daily work of providing services to clients are bearing the brunt of this heartless strategy.
What does it mean for people in the workplace?
Staff who work in client contact areas are experiencing high levels of stress from attempting to deal with clients whose needs cannot be met. People on low incomes trying to obtain rent relief have to wait up to 10 weeks for their claim to be processed. The public housing waiting list is now well over seven years. A high proportion of community service workers are on short term, roll-over contracts leaving them uncertain about their financial security, and their clients are uncertain whom they will have to tell their story to next time.
Public service workers are so overloaded they don't even have time for their required breaks. The abuse of flexitime is all on the part of management. The maximum carry-over limit is usually enforced rigidly, despite regular refusal of requests for time off. This can mean workers losing up to 10 or 15 hours per month, which translates to one or two days free work for the government.
In March, more than 15,000 workers took to the streets in protest at changes to the Workcover system. No such outpouring has occurred in response to the erosion of the public sector, but pockets of resistance are preventing the government from having a completely smooth run.
Public Service Association members employed in the Pipelines Authority have stymied the sale of that agency by refusing to transfer to the corporate buyer. They voted to stay with the conditions in the public sector rather than risk the flimsy government incentive of a few thousand dollars and "guarantee" of two years' employment in the private sector.
The police and administrative staff have begun united action opposing cuts in their budget. Not content with contracting out an SA prison to British company Group 4, the government now projects contracting the prison transport system.
The South Australian Institute of Teachers recently held a stop-work and rally as part of an ongoing campaign against the $22 million cut to education and the imposition of skills testing on students. Most of the reduction will be felt in the slashing of school support officers, PSA members, who are launching a campaign of work bans. SAIT is attempting to shift to a federal award, which the government alleges will cause a further cut of $137 million.
Women are feeling the cuts in many ways. The Working Women's Centre has been hit by a $50,000 funding cut, which will require a reduction of nearly 25% in staff and services. It has launched a publicity campaign. The Women's Community Health centres are still waiting to learn the impact on them of the $26 million health cut.
Workers in the field report that they are already relying on church and charitable organisations to provide the support previously available in the public welfare sector. Women's shelters are currently surviving on a monthly grants system.
A Housing Trust policy shift prevents clients with debts obtaining further housing. This has serious implications for women who are survivors of domestic violence living in public housing.
The anti-poverty unit has been eliminated from Family and Community Services, along with the closure of Debtline, a financial counselling service.
The United Trades and Labour Council has managed only to produce a glossy brochure highlighting why SA used to be such a good place to live. The SA Council of Social Services has issued a press release with little direction for action. The Community and Public Sector Union has organised a two-day conference free to all workers and community members in an attempt to formulate some response to the worst aspects of the cutbacks and privatisation.