Last week, after the Sunday announcement by the Premier of the Back to School plan, your union lodged a dispute in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, with the United Workers Union (UWU) about the lack of consultation around the Plan. As this is a significant issue of safety at work, there should be a risk assessment undertaken to mitigate risks as much as is practicable. On Friday, the Department advised that this had not occurred regarding the Back to School plan. It is very disappointing that the legislative requirement to undertake a risk assessment in these circumstances was not done prior to the Plan's announcement last Sunday. Following the dispute Together and UWU lodged in the Commission, the Department is now conducting a risk assessment with unions. There is now an opportunity to ensure concerns are raised, documented and control measures put in place. You can read the recommendations made by Commissioner Knight in our dispute here. Every school is different, which means the risks, and control measures, will be different as well. Local WHS Representatives and workers should be consulted regarding matters that affect your safety and wellbeing at work. You can read more about risk assessments here. Some risks that members have raised are: use of sick bays or other facilities to isolate symptomatic students (including PPE requirements for staff monitoring these students); ventilation or social distancing in school offices; prep rooms being used as thoroughfares, and others. Members can also lodge a form here if you are concerned with how local WHS consultation and risk assessments have occurred – or not occurred at all – at your school, and you have outstanding concerns. The news coming out of NSW and Victoria indicates that thousands of cases have been caught through those states' surveillance testing regime. Catching cases before students and staff spend time in schools is critical to stopping the spread. Currently, the Department does not have access to the number of RATs that would be required for twice-weekly surveillance testing. Supply of RATs is an issue across the board and Together recognizes this reality. However, in the coming weeks supply will increase and we are seeking that the Department’s policy reflects this and increases access of employer-supplied RATs to staff in circumstances other than just when they are symptomatic at work, at which point COVID may have already spread to co-workers and other members of the school community. The recommendation from Commissioner Knight was that the Department take all reasonable steps to clarify and consider the proposed framework dealing with the provision of rapid antigen tests in schools advanced by Together and UWU. There will be further discussions with the Department this week. Together members are also invited to a Zoom briefing on Tuesday 15 February at 10:30am. Register for the briefing here. Sign the Together petition for increased access to employer-provided RATs here. You can also find out more about the Safer Together campaign here.
With the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19, governments and organisations have had to rethink how they deal with the new, more-infectious variant. Public Sector members are concerned about potential gaps in leave entitlements contained in the Employment Arrangements in the Event of a Health Pandemic (Directive 01/20) that could be exposed by the omicron variant. Together members have written to the Public Service Commission to highlight members' concerns. It is important that public sector members feel safe when they go to work. You can read the letter here. Members must have access to additional leave with omicron Public sector members currently have access to 20 days “Special Pandemic Leave”. This leave has been in place for many months, but now it's time for the public service to catch up to what members are facing today. With a more infectious variant, members are concerned that the potential of being reinfected with COVID-19 or the need to isolate to care for family and friends may exhaust the current Special Pandemic Leave entitlement. Measures must be in place when members exhaust their current 20 days of Special Pandemic Leave. An additional 20 days leave must be activated in the event of a public servant being reinfected with COVID-19, for example when there have been multiple infections in a household or a school or childcare centre has been closed and a public sector member is required to care for a child. Members require leave for vaccinations Members have also expressed concern that the minister’s comments about vaccination are not reflected in the Directive. We know the importance vaccination is playing in reducing severe disease and members should be encouraged to take the time to get their booster shot. As such, members are requesting access to paid time off, including travel time, to be vaccinated and also paid leave if an employee has an adverse reaction to a vaccine. These entitlements should be reflected in the Directive. Members require access to Rapid Antigen tests The changes to close contact rules means members need access to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs). Public servants must have access to RATs when: A employee is a close contact of a diagnosed person, either at home or accommodation, and requires a negative test to return to work. A employee has had contact with a diagnosed person in the execution of their duties. A employee has worked with a diagnosed person in close confines for more that 4 hours. If a person requires a negative test to return to work and cannot access a RAT, they must be granted Special Pandemic Leave. Members are seeking these change be added to the Directive also.
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.
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.
