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Summer 2008

Child and Family Service Carer's Fight for Safety

FOR over a year, HACSU members in Child and Family Services have been campaigning for a safer workplace.

Despite over 10 workers compensation claims of a similar nature and one unfortunate tragic event, management have still continued to put in place unsafe staffing levels.

The unsafe staffing levels have caused many incidents; including physical and verbal abuse, ultimately affecting the safety of clients, and causing significant stress and trauma for staff members.

Furthermore, carers are expected to work in houses that are increasingly overcrowded.

Members are continually presenting management with alternative solutions to address these safety issues but to no avail.

Management's inaction has led to HACSU members to vote for industrial action, should management not guarantee to place at least two rostered carers in each house.

HACSU delegate, Michael Paxton, said child and family service carers have waited far too long for management to address staffing levels and his patience has run out.

"Taking industrial action is not something we would normally consider, but we seem to have no other alternative," he said.

As a sign of good faith HACSU members have given management one more chance to agree to safe staffing levels, and are currently waiting on a response from management.