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Winter 2004

Sleepovers – What a joke

Three disability services in Tasmania’s North West – Multicap, Devonfield and North West Residential Services - are developing a strategy to win increased sleepover allowances.

This follows membership meetings on each site to make this a priority issue.

Employers have been advised a claim is being lodged.

The HACSU membership campaign will include campaigning out in the community and in the workplace.

Members have been wearing badges with the simple and direct slogan "Sleepovers - what a joke!"

There has been discontent for a considerable period over this issue, where an 8-10 hour shift can be paid, despite three disturbances, at $21.35 for the whole shift. In other words, two dollars ten cents an hour, and that doesn't include travel costs to get to and from work.

Members see this as an absolute insult, particularly given a high percentage of workers are women who have their family arrangements messed up by these sleepover shifts.

The issue will need to be hard fought, with employers previously rejecting Statewide claims by members on this issue.

In the first meeting with management, however, it was clear they were very embarrassed about the rate of pay for sleepovers, and distinctly uncomfortable about members campaigning on this issue.

Further updates will follow.