❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the fairness of docking or stopping a school gardener's pay for refusing to rake sandpits, citing safety concerns. The Premier acknowledges unfair practices and states that while pay can be docked, it should not be completely stopped.
AnsweredQoN 908Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOL GARDENERS — PAY DISPUTE
I refer to the plight of school gardeners, many of whom are completing all duties with the singular exception of raking sandpits, a task which may take approximately 10 minutes to complete in the course of a working day. In light of the Premier’s comment last week when he stated, “I will stand on my record of being fair” — (1) Does the Premier believe that a gardener’s pay should be stopped for refusal to rake the sandpit, or should the worker only be docked for the time taken to complete the task? (2) Is it the government’s policy to completely stop pay when a worker fails to undertake a single duty; if so, is that fair; and, if not, what is the government’s policy? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the plight of school gardeners, many of whom are completing all duties with the singular exception of raking sandpits, a task which may take approximately 10 minutes to complete in the course of a working day. In light of the Premier’s comment last week when he stated, “I will stand on my record of being fair” — (1) Does the Premier believe that a gardener’s pay should be stopped for refusal to rake the sandpit, or should the worker only be docked for the time taken to complete the task? (2) Is it the government’s policy to completely stop pay when a worker fails to undertake a single duty; if so, is that fair; and, if not, what is the government’s policy? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
(1) Does the Premier believe that a gardener’s pay should be stopped for refusal to rake the sandpit, or should the worker only be docked for the time taken to complete the task? (2) Is it the government’s policy to completely stop pay when a worker fails to undertake a single duty; if so, is that fair; and, if not, what is the government’s policy? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
(2) Is it the government’s policy to completely stop pay when a worker fails to undertake a single duty; if so, is that fair; and, if not, what is the government’s policy? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
(1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
(1) Does the Premier believe that a gardener’s pay should be stopped for refusal to rake the sandpit, or should the worker only be docked for the time taken to complete the task? (2) Is it the government’s policy to completely stop pay when a worker fails to undertake a single duty; if so, is that fair; and, if not, what is the government’s policy? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
(2) Is it the government’s policy to completely stop pay when a worker fails to undertake a single duty; if so, is that fair; and, if not, what is the government’s policy? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
I thank the member for Midland for the question, which is very similar to a question I was asked last week, as I recall. Not surprisingly, the answer has not changed. (1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
(1)-(2) I repeat that if employees, whether they be in the private or public sector, refuse to do their duties, they can expect to have their pay docked. Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : What about stopped? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I do not regard it as a trivial matter if a gardener refuses to rake a sandpit. Sandpits can be a source of risk to children. There have been cases of glass, syringes and other materials being placed in sandpits; therefore, I would regard the raking of those sandpits to make sure they are safe as one of the most important duties at a school or any playground. I do not regard that as a trivial matter at all. As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
As I said, I think on Thursday of last week, I spent 10 or 15 minutes speaking to a group of employees—teachers assistants, gardeners and others—who were outside my office, during which time a number of them made the same point that the member has made; that is, not only had their pay been docked, but also they had been told that they would not be paid for that week, or whatever it might be. I said to them that if that was true and that was the case—I did not doubt their word—I would regard that as unfair. My understanding is that it was the case in some instances, and that has been corrected. Those people may have had their pay docked, but they will not have their pay stopped, and that has been put in place.
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