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Autumn 2003

Negotiations on 10 Hour Shifts Proceed

HACSU is currently in negotiations with the Department in an attempt to reach a formal agreement over award protections for roster patterns above 8 hours per day.

Currently under the Community and Health Services (Public Sector) Award there is no provision to enable employees to extend their hours of work beyond 8 hours per day on a regular rostered basis.

However, there are a number of areas throughout the public sector where members wish this to occur.

To provide the necessary award protection to HACSU members HACSU has entered into discussions with Department of Health and Human Services with the intention of registering in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission a "Flexible Working Arrangements Agreement".

This agreement would be similar to the agreement recently negotiated for nurses whereby employees and the employer may agree to the following:

• Utilising staggered start and finish times.

• Varying shift lengths or the length of a working day up to a maximum of 10 hours in any one day

Provided that:

• There is written agreement between the individual employee and the employer for this to occur;

• That either party can terminate the agreement with twenty eight (28) days notice; and,

• Arrangements to implement flexible working arrangements shall only happen following consultation with the employees involved.

The DHHS has agreed to provide HACSU with a draft agreement before the next meeting, which is yet to be scheduled.

Members who would like further information or who would like to become involved in this process are invited to contact Leanne McDougall or Vladimir Lefleur on 6231 2253, Julie Tolputt on 6331 2237 or Louise Leslie on 6424 6885.