Strong action by the CPSU has put the brakes on a management plan to transfer the liability for electricity expenses from Centrelink to individual staff members.
Before the CPSU stepped in earlier this week, NTOG staff were being told that unless they agreed to accept liability for utility expenses, the power in their temporary accommodation could be cut off.
More than 200 staff on Temporary Transfer in Alice Springs and Darwin would have been affected by the policy change. At today's Fair Work Australia hearing, Centrelink agreed to:
stop any further attempts to collect personal details from members
stop any actions to transfer electricity and utilities expenses to members
stop any form of disciplinary action for members who objected to the changes.
The undertakings will remain in place for two months while your union proceeds with action to protect allowances and entitlements when on Temporary Transfer.
This breakthrough demonstrates clearly the value of union membership. And the more members we have, the more we can achieve together. Help spread the word about our win today by talking with colleagues. Join online or call 1300 137 636.
Regards
Lisa Newman
CPSU Deputy National President
Centrelink flicks switch on paying NT utility bills By Markus Mannheim
Public Service Reporter
The Canberra Times (Thu 02 Jul 2009)
Centrelink staff working in remote Aboriginal communities are taking legal action against their employer after they were told the agency would no longer pay their utility bills.
In one case, the welfare agency warned the public servants, who are seconded to the Northern Territory as part of the Government's emergency intervention, that their electricity supplies could be cut off unless they paid the bills themselves.
The dispute was lodged with Fair Work Australia yesterday, the new tribunal's first day of operations.
About 200 Centrelink staff are temporarily based in Alice Springs and Darwin as part of the federal intervention to improve Aboriginal living conditions.
The officers spend most of their week travelling to remote communities. Centrelink had until yesterday paid their gas, water and electricity bills to compensate them for volunteering to work in the territory.
The Community and Public Sector Union, which represents some of the staff, said it was angered and disappointed by the decision to end the subsidy.
Lead organiser Jason Markwick said Centrelink warned workers they would be disciplined unless they passed on bank details to allow the agency to transfer liability for the bills.
''These are people who have decided to move away from their families and help out some of the most disadvantaged Australians. They get no additional pay, no benefits, no perks ... They're shocked at the disrespect they're being shown,'' he said.
But Centrelink had warned staff it was only paying their bills temporarily, a spokeswoman for the agency said last night.
''Centrelink has been working with staff in the NT for the last two months to discuss changes to these arrangements, effective from July 1.''
One human resources officer sent a message to a remote Centrelink worker yesterday, asking him for his bank details. The note, obtained by The Canberra Times, expressed concern the worker ''could be without power from tomorrow and I would not like that to happen''.
But Centrelink said last night it would not instruct utilities to disconnect staff's power or water services.
The union says staff are entitled to the subsidy under their wage agreement, which ensures employees ''pay normal living and accommodation costs in [only] one locality'', and that Centrelink reimburse them for ''reasonable additional costs'' at their usual home if they are seconded to another area.
The dispute is the latest controversy to dog the intervention after a series of mishaps.
Hundreds of public servants were evacuated from remote communities in 2007 after they were exposed to carcinogens including formaldehyde and asbestos in their makeshift housing.
The bureaucrats were again forced out of new demountable houses earlier this year after concerns were raised about poor air quality in the buildings.
Fair Work Australia is scheduled to hear the dispute over the utility bills today.
Comments(2)
Posted by:Very Worried - 9 Jul 2009, 11:28am Fantastic work, now lets do something about the OH&S conditions before someone is seriously hurt. Lets join together in union and keep on pushing while we are on a role.
Posted by:John - 9 Jul 2009, 11:17am Great work, Centrelink will try anything. I cant imagine where we would be without the CPSU.
Fantastic work, now lets do something about the OH&S conditions before someone is seriously hurt. Lets join together in union and keep on pushing while we are on a role.
Great work, Centrelink will try anything. I cant imagine where we would be without the CPSU.