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Winter 2005

Determination gets workload issues addressed following - Latrobe takeover

When a takeover of a facility or a ‘simple’ restructure occurs, often there are workers who at the end of the process suddenly find their workloads have gone up. Nobody comes along and offers extra pay, extra hours or extra staff. It’s important to remember you don’t just have to accept it. With some determination and the strength of a union behind you, you can get these matters addressed.

Veronica Hicks and Annita Lee, who work at the Medical Reception Department of the Mersey Hospital, are a case in point.

When the Government took over the facility, due to new (old) systems being put in place, they found their workload had doubled.

"Two people just couldn't do the workload," Annita said.

"We kept talking to them about this until we were blue in the face but we weren't getting anywhere."

"We called up the HACSU officials to come and give us a hand and eventually it got sorted out."

"They realised how much work there was and that we couldn't do it on our own." "We've got 70 hrs per fortnight on a 3-months trial."

"Things are now starting to settle down after the changeover, with people coming to know the new systems and who you need to go to."

"We are grateful to Geraldine our immediate manager who listened to us, and took some of the flak."

Importantly, however, both Annita and Veronica are very concerned about the Federal Government's IR changes.

"We are lucky at the moment we have decent bosses. But there are some really sleazy bosses. They will be able to sack people for no good reason."

"People are going to feel intimidated and frightened. They aren't going to say anything for fear they will lose their jobs, especially the young ones."