What: Stop-Work Rally
When: 12:30pm, Wednesday 12 November 2024
Where: Nick Champion’s Office, 86b/600 Main North Rd, Smithfield
Why: SA Housing Trust in Crisis
SA Housing Trust in Crisis: Rally Demanding Fair Pay and Safety
Today public sector workers will rally at SA Minister for Housing, Nick Champion’s office in Smithfield, calling for fair pay and respect for the vital work they do to keep South Australians housed and supported.
Housing Trust officers face some of the most confronting and complex situations in the public sector - dealing daily with mental health crises, domestic abuse survivors, aggression, abuse and vulnerable clients - yet their pay does not reflect the level of skill, risk, and responsibility their work demands.
A recent PSA survey of SA Housing Trust members indicates a department in crisis.
- Over 50% of respondents have felt unsafe working for Housing Trust in the last 2 years
- Over 75% of respondents say that there have been issues with the provision of services being provided to Housing Trust customers due to insufficient staffing levels and/or high workloads
- Over a quarter of respondents indicate that they are planning on leaving the Trust within the next 12 months.
“This workforce is on the frontline of South Australia’s housing crisis,” said PSA General Secretary Charlotte Watson.
“They deal with trauma, conflict, and crisis every single day - and they do it because they care about their clients and their community. But care doesn’t pay the bills.
"Minister Champion recently stated that this government is about growing public housing, yet our members report a department in disarray, unable to recruit and retain staff.
"Ultimately it is the South Australian public who pay the price."
The PSA recently wrote to Minister Champion asking for urgent action to address both critical safety concerns and the critical attraction and retention crisis in SA Housing Trust.
Many housing trust workers start on wages of just $58,000 a year.
Today’s rally is part of the ongoing campaign for a fair enterprise bargaining (EB) offer from the State Government.
“Public sector workers are the backbone of essential community services,” Ms Watson said.
“If this government truly values safe and stable housing for all South Australians, it must start by valuing the people who deliver it.”
The PSA is calling on the government to come back to the table with a real offer that delivers:
- Fair pay that keeps pace with the cost of living.
- Safe staffing levels and working conditions.
- Recognition for the critical role public sector workers play in supporting our communities.
Elvira Karajkovic, Housing Officer, PSA Delegate:
“I am a 30-year-old female, renting with my partner. I have already given up hope of owning a home. Currently my partner and I would like to start a family. I cannot comfortably do this on my wages. I started in Housing SA when I was 23 and I never thought that I would have to look elsewhere for employment. The changes in this 7-year period have been detrimental to my mental health. Handing over the keys used to be the best part of the job. That is gone now. When I hand over keys, there is no pride. The properties are not up to standard. We simply do not have the staff or the support to provide adequate living standards anymore. In my office, we went through a phase of 6 months, with only 3 staff members, to cover nearly 3000 properties.”
Sarah Bougourd, Customer Service Officer, PSA Delegate:
“I have worked at Housing Trust for three years. During those three years, I have seen countless safety and service issues. At my office over the last 13 months alone, we have received multiple death threats from customers. I myself have been sexually assaulted by a customer. We have to leave the office in pairs for safety reasons, and we have dedicated security. This last year has been extremely stressful as we are already understaffed, and this has not helped in the slightest with retaining staff considering how low our pay is. My rent is almost 50% of my income. I cannot afford to go to the dentist for much needed dental work. My health is at risk.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547
