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Autumn 2006

Beck and Call: On-call work in the Public Sector

Currently workers in the public sector who are ‘on call’ receive a paltry 82 cents per hour. This compares very poorly to the $3.50 per hour, or $28 per day received by nurses and health professionals who are required to be on call, under their respective Enterprise Bargaining Agreements.

Public sector workers affected by this issue include those who perform emergency work for the Department of Housing, maintenance workers at the Launceston General Hospital, and some patient transport workers.

There is no provision in either the awards or agreements covering these workers allowing for on call work or standby. But the practice has arisen following an administrative instruction from the Government. HACSU has advised public sector workers, other than those covered by the Health Professionals Agreement, who are asked to work on call that they are not required to comply.

In March, the State Government offered an on call allowance of $2.50 per hour but the majority of members rejected this. A Building and Engineering worker, who asked to remain anonymous said, "The disruption to my family life caused by being on call is of great concern to me. If this is going to be part of my job then I should be compensated for it in the same way as health professionals and nurses. Why is their family time valued more than mine?"

"I have missed many of my children's weekend sporting activities. I feel like I'm missing a large part of them growing up. 82 cents an hour doesn't compensate for that," he said.

David Lynch, who works as an Electrician for the State Government, said on call work always causes a disruption to family life. "Often I'll try and plan a weekend away with my family at our shack at Bridport but I'll receive a call back to work and my family will end up going to the shack by themselves. Once I've finished work I am left at home on my own while my family are off at the shack without me - it's not a happy situation," David said.

Members are seeking an agreement from the Government that either the $3.50 per hour paid to other public servants will be matched, or a minimum on call engagement of six hours wages be paid.

In the course of membership meetings around the 'on call issue,' it has also come to light that some employees are being asked to be on call without being paid at all. Most often this comes in the form of employees being asked to be contactable by their employer, either by phone or by internet, with some not even being provided with a mobile phone, and therefore leaving them unable to leave their house. This situation is totally unacceptable.

The main message from members has been that their time with their friends and families is important, and it shouldn't be treated as if it was of a lesser value than that of other government employees who are required to be on call.

As Alan, who works in the Carpenter's Shop says, "When I'm on call it is really difficult for me to plan outings or to spend time with my partner. Last time we hosted a family barbecue I got called back to work half-way though. It is a real disruption that we are not adequately compensated for."

If you are being asked to work on call for less than a dollar an hour, or for no pay at all, contact the HACSU Helpline on 1300 880 032 and become involved in the 'On Call Campaign'