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| Winter 2003 |
Decent Rights, Decent Work and Decent Wages - Public Sector EBA Claim
All HACSU members are being urged to “get ready to go” and support the HACSU claim for improved wages and conditions in the coming round of wages negotiations.
HACSU officials are now close to finalising a claim to be put to members for endorsement following the collation of information from a statewide survey of public sector members and around 20 membership meetings around the State.
With the previous agreement having expired on 31 July 2003, the claim will then be put to government and negotiations will commence.
HACSU Assistant State Secretary, Tim Jacobson, said the feedback to the union head office from the survey was extensive and a wide ranging claim had been developed.
Tim warned, however, that ensuring a successful agreement would be difficult, with State Governments Australiawide looking at keeping public sector wages down.
"I would like to thank the many hundreds of members who have returned the survey, or attended the consultation meetings," Tim Jacobson said. "We have detailed feedback on what people are concerned about and the priority areas."
"Broadly, we are looking at developing a claim around the concepts of decent rights, decent work and decent pay."
"People see pay and conditions as priorities but their rights, and being treated with respect, are just as important."
"We have seen a shift in attitude whereby people are not prepared to put up with the stand-over managers, managers who are full of themselves, and the bullies.
Members want a clear statement of their rights contained within this agreement."
Tim Jacobson warned that securing significant wage increases would be a hard fight, with Tasmania part of a coalition of state governments to keep public sector wages down to 3-3.5%.
"It has been reported in the news that all State Governments have met and agreed on a pact which will attempt to keep public sector wages around the 3 - 3.5% per annum."
"The reports indicate State Governments may be prepared to take us on."
"There is no doubt in my mind we will have to campaign very hard for increases and improvements."
"What it will come down to is how well we campaign, how innovatively, how strong we campaign and how much members get behind the campaign."
"The government knows there is a lot of community goodwill towards our union and the causes we support."
"They will be sensitive to the political fallout of our campaign.
If members get behind the campaign the results will follow."
"3% outcomes would put public sector workers behind private sector increases, which have been running at around 4%- 5%."
"We do not want the public sector to develop into a backwater, where workers will be treated as second class citizens."
"Specific and significant problems are being experienced by the Department in attracting and retaining allied health professionals
in Tasmania.
Largely this is because of the lack of competitive salaries and conditions. This must be dealt with in some way in the negotiations.
It's a major issue for our allied health professional members," Tim said.
Tim Jacobson urged all members to talk to non-members and use the campaign as a way of signing up new members.
"We need as many members as we can behind this campaign. Campaigns are a time when we can easily demonstrate the value of being in a union."
"Members should be talking to their colleagues about what we are campaigning for and asking them to contribute to the union that is running the campaign for better wages and conditions."
Our Claim - Decent Rights, Decent Work and Decent
Wages
The current State Service Wages Agreement will expire on 31 July 2003. HACSU has surveyed public sector members covered by the Agreement in order to develop a list of matters, which could be included in an Agreement.
HACSU sought members' endorsement of this preliminary list of matters to enable a joint public sector unions claim to be developed.
The priority matters identified through the survey by members have been divided into three general themes - Decent Rights, Decent Work and Decent Pay.
Here is a detailed summary of the matters endorsed by members, which will be taken back to the joint public sector unions group to finalise a joint claim to put to Government.
DECENT RIGHTS
That the State Government acknowledge all State Sector employees have the right to be consulted about issues affecting their workplaces, that they have a right to join a union and to be actively involved in the activities of their union, that they have a right to training and career paths and that they have a right to a safe workplace free from bullying and harassment.
Temporary Employees and Fixed Term Contracts
That employment by fixed term contracts should only be used where the nature of the job justifies such contracts.
That the practice of rolling over contracts be ceased except in exceptional circumstances.
That current temporary employees who have been employed for 12 months or longer, be converted to permanent employee status.
Family Friendly Work Arrangements
That the on site childcare be provided at all major State Sector sites and that all State Sector employees have access to these childcare facilities.
That carers leave be increased from the current 5 day limit to the limit of an employees accrued sick leave.
Career Pathway Opportunities
That all employees be provided with access to training and staff development opportunities and that where possible the training should be accredited.
That all employees should have available career pathway opportunities and that these career pathway opportunities should be clearly communicated to all employees.
That processes be put in place to provide opportunities for employees to gain experience in areas other than their main work area.
Member and Delegate Rights
That union members be provided with paid time to participate in union training and to be actively involved in Worksite Committees.
That Union Delegates be recognised by management in the workplace and be provided paid time and access to resources to carry out their role as a Delegate, to participate in union training and to fulfil any roles in the union they are elected to.
DECENT WORK
That all State Sector Workers have equal access to decent working conditions that acknowledge the balance between working time and personal time, that encourage access to flexible working arrangements, that recognize changing needs throughout a career and that ensures that just and secure conditions are guaranteed regardless of a workers employment status.
Relief staff
That there be sufficient and adequately trained staff to cover staff on sick leave, annual leave and maternity/paternity leave etc
That where back fill for staff on leave is not provided, employees will not be required to take on the additional duties and workload.
Filling Vacant Positions
All positions that become vacant are advertised immediately on the position becoming vacant and filled within a maximum three month period.
Where back fill for vacant positions is not provided, employees will not be required to take on the additional duties and workload.
Adequate Numbers of Staff for the Work Required
That work areas have sufficient staffing establishment to ensure that there are adequate staff numbers for the work required.
Where there is not sufficient staff provided, employees will not be required to take on the additional duties and workload.
Sick Leave and Annual Leave
Casual and Part-time employees working less than 20 hours per week should have the choice of receiving pro rata sick leave and annual leave entitlements.
A statutory declaration be deemed to have the same status as a medical certificate to demonstrate proof of illness for the purpose of accessing sick leave entitlements.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Individual staff circumstances such as family and other commitments be taken into account by management when responding to requests for flexible working arrangements.
Job share arrangements be formalised and that employees have access to these arrangements.
Based on family and other personal commitments, employees be able to temporarily reduce their employment to part-time for specific periods without relinquishing their substantive hours or duties.
Rostered Day Off
That all employees have access to a Rostered Day Off (RDO) every twenty eight days.
Position Descriptions
That all employees have a position description that describes all significant tasks required of their position, that these tasks be limited to the amount of work that could be reasonably done in the normal hours of work. Any changes to a position description only be done through consultation with the employee.
No employee be required to undertake duties outside of their position description.
DECENT PAY
Salary and allowance be increased to ensure that State Sector workers receive fair remuneration for the work they are performing.
Salary
Salaries should be increased by 6% each year for the life of the Agreement. Salary increases be paid by way of a single increase each year.
Flat dollar increases be paid at lower levels i.e. $36 per week or 6% which ever is greater
Superannuation
Superannuation for employees not in the Defined Benefits scheme be increased in stages to 13% (from 9%) to be matched by employee contributions i.e.
13% employer contribution requires 4% employee contributions.
On Call/Call Back
The amount paid for oncall be reviewed to provide for an adequate allowance for employees required to be oncall.
Call back provisions be reviewed to include not only attendance at the worksite but also any additional work required to be done from the employees home.
Health Professionals
The Agreement allow for the negotiation of further Allied Health Profession conditions matters which will be raised in the Allied Health Professional Workforce Planning Status Report and to address the recruitment and retention of allied health professionals to Tasmania.
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