Dismay over compulsory redundancies announced at DCCEE

It is apparent that the Department is not working hard enough to meet the Government’s publicly stated instruction to Department’s to “do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies”.

We believe that the ability exists for all affected DCCEE staff to be redeployed in the APS, or participate in a Job Exchange program. This would help retain the valuable skills and experience of those staff declared excess. CPSU pushed hard for the inclusion of Job Exchange principles in the APS Redeployment Policy when the APSC and Government were looking at this issue last year. It is exactly for the situation that DCCEE staff are facing now that CPSU pushed so hard for a Job Exchange process.

What is Job Exchange?

The Australian Public Service Commission provides guidance to agencies on dealing with excess staffing situations. These APS Redeployment provisions include the following on Job Exchanges:

2.2 Job exchanges and information sharing

2.2.1 An agency head, with the agreement of another agency head and an employee, can move the employee to their agency as part of an arrangement to address job reductions. This would be managed by the agencies and does not require APSC involvement.

2.2.2 The APSC will provide a clearing-house facility for employees to register their interest in job exchange opportunities, subject to it being supported by their agency head.

2.2.3 A job exchange may be agreed to by agency heads where another APS employee at the appropriate classification level is willing to accept a VR package. Either agency head can decline a job exchange having regard to:

the skills, attributes or performance of the employees involved and alignment to their workforce plan;

whether it is affordable.

What should members do?

If you have received a notice stating that you are potentially excess, and you wish to stay employed (redeployment) in the APS, you should immediately register for redeployment and job exchange interest. You can do that by going to : http://www.apsc.gov.au/redeployment/operatingproceduresemployee.pdf

CPSU will be conducting meetings with affected staff in the immediate future to provide support and advice. Your local CPSU representatives will let you know the time and location of these meetings.

What support can I expect from the CPSU?

CPSU provides expert advice and assistance to union members about redundancy/redeployment rights and entitlements. Your union will work with you to ensure DCCEE adheres to relevant requirements in enterprise agreements as well as following the Government’s new APS Redeployment Policy which imposes obligations upon agencies in handling any excess staffing situations. Not a member? Join online now!