Union leaders from across Australia have committed to protecting worker safety as the number of cases in Australia continues to reach record highs. Union leaders are concerned at the federal Morrison government's failures to protect worker safety and failure to secure the tests needed to protect workers from illness and harm. At a national level, union leaders have resolved that: For workplaces were working from home is not an option, the provision of free RATs by employers to all workers will be necessary once supply is resolved, alongside upgraded masks and improved ventilation. Union members will take whatever steps are necessary in their workplaces to ensure they are as safe as possible. Where employers do not fulfil their obligations, the union movement determines to do everything within its power to ensure the safety of workers and the community. The Morrison government continues to fail through its inability to provide Rapid Antigen Tests and through its continued legislative attacks on workplace health and safety rules that are designed to keep workers and their families safe from COVID-19. Sign the petition to ask Scott Morrison to act to protect Australians by making RATs free and accessible.
Your union is standing up for member's rights for a fair process and timely implementation of any vaccination mandates. We know that many employers have introduced, or are considering introducing, vaccination mandates. In addition to insisting on consultation before any decision is made, Together members need an opportunity to seek exemptions and have time to make those applications prior to the introduction of mandates. As part of that process, we will continue to enforce individual members' rights through both the exemption and disciplinary processes of mandatory vaccinations. We are currently challenging a number of decisions by government agencies to suspend staff without pay for failing to follow a vaccination direction. Recently an application to stay a decision to suspend a member in Police was refused. While the Commission found the member had arguable prospects on appeal, there was no initial financial detriment as the member could take recreation leave and, if the appeal was successful, the employer would be in a position to remediate any loss of pay for the relevant period. It is clear that employees who refuse vaccination directions can expect to be disciplined and face suspension without pay while that occurs. One of the appeals being run on a suspension without pay decision is being heard on Friday 7 January and further updates will be provided.
The Queensland government has now mandated that workers at schools, childcare centres, prisons, youth detention centres and airports must now be fully vaccinated by 23 Jan, with the first vaccine dose delivered by 17 Dec. This mandate will cover many Together members in schools, Custodial Correctional Officers, Youth Detention workers, Airport workers and more. It’s important that you ensure you’re up to speed on what this new mandate means for you. Your union is holding zoom meetings for many members affected by the mandate. Check out the details below for information regarding your employer. Schools members On Wednesday 1 December, branch secretary Alex Scott held a zoom for Schools members affected by the vaccine mandate. You can view the zoom below. We know that being vaccinated against COVID-19 is one way to keep us safe, there are also other important considerations about ensuring everyone is safe at work and at school. If you have specific questions you would like raised at the briefings please get in touch with us today at education@together.org.au. You can also contact the union office for support and advice as more details come through about the requirements. We will provide as much information as we can, as quickly as we can. Corrections members Corrections members have also had a zoom briefing this week regarding the mandate. You can view the briefing below. We want to hear from you as Corrections members about whether you support mandatory vaccinations or not. Please complete this very quick survey so we can understand Corrections members' positions on this issue. Youth Detention members The D-G has said in her email to staff The definition of a worker includes Youth Detention Centre employees, contractors, union officials, volunteers, regulators, auditors, teachers, support workers, health workers and couriers. Departmental staff visiting a youth detention centre will be considered a worker in a high risk setting even though they may only occasionally enter the setting as part of their work duties. If you believe the mandate affects you and you have questions or concerns about the directive, please contact your union office on your.union@together.org.au or 1800 177 244 and speak to union staff.
Balancing work and life is becoming even more difficult as workers can now be accessed online at all hours by their employer. Advancing technology is making workers more connected to their work than ever before and the line between work and home can be easily blurred by remote work. Tomorrow, Together is celebrating Go Home On Time Day. It's a day to start necessary conversations in workplaces about work life balance and the value of your time as workers. Every year, Australian workers forgo billions of dollars of unpaid overtime by doing work outside of their regular paid hours. This includes: working through your breaks replying to emails out of hours working on weekends when you aren't scheduled to In our current pandemic crisis it’s even more important to take the time this year to think about the blurring lines of work and home. Working from home has in some ways made our working lives less challenging, but it has also eliminated some boundaries between home life and work life. It’s really important if you are working from home to remember to “clock off” and leave your work. Union members have the power to create fairer workplaces that let you spend quality time doing the things you love into the future.
The Queensland government has announced new budget principles as part of the state budget. In a significant reform, after lobbying and pressure from union members, the government has moved away from a previous budget principle (Principle 6), which limited the growth in staffing levels to population growth. This budget principle had seen the number of the public servants reducing, as the growth of Queensland Health employment was higher than population growth. It was important that our health system grew to meet demand but it should not have been at the expense of the rest of the sector. This budget principle was also resulting in departments increasing the use of labour-hire arrangements as a way around the budget principle. The budget papers state that: A narrow focus on FTEs could also create perverse incentives for agencies to outsource services at higher cost to the state. This change shows that the government has listened to public servants and your union on the need for reform on how the sector is managed. This is an important reform which should see an appropriate focus on services to the community rather than an obsession with staffing levels and how they are reported (or mis-reported) by the Courier-Mail. Recruitment freeze concerning However the government has announced the creation of 'the Pool' and a new revised process for establishment management, to be led by the Public Service Commission. The Treasurer has been reported as announcing a continuation of the public service recruitment freeze. Together is gravely concerned that the these two announcements will result in a de facto process of natural attrition with the public service for positions not considered 'frontline.' Together has sought an urgent meeting with the Public Service Commission so we can be briefed on what these announcements will mean for members. We have also sought urgent clarification from the Treasurer on the announcements and confirmation that the government's policy in relation to public service employment level remains consistent to the commitments given by the ALP to the Queensland community and the Queensland public service prior to last year's state election.