On Thursday, 28 May, the National Staff Participation Forum met. CPSU representatives at this meeting were Wendy Backhous (NSW Office), Peter Hampson (Tasmania Office) and James Higgins (CPSU organiser, ACT).
Efficiency Dividend
The National Staff Participation Forum (NSPF) was told that the Department needed to identify $32 million in savings – achievable in two ways; 1) by reducing or ceasing functions and 2) through the financial review. This will include a net reduction in staffing of approximately 183 positions.
CPSU representatives raised the concerns of DoHA staff that, where positions are being made excess or not being filled, workloads of people in that work area are expanding. If the function that a position is responsible for exceeds what can be reasonably achieved in the hours paid for each week, then this is a problem that needs to be addressed by reducing its function or increasing staff.
According to Steve Sheehan (CFO), Division Heads have identified functions that can be reduced or ceased as part of this process, but your representatives are concerned that this is not being consistently communicated to staff. Management agreed to pass staff concerns on to Executive, and to develop a set of principles to guide Divisions when they are managing staff reductions and redeployment. These principles will be circulated to your NSPF representatives for comment.
CPSU members: if you are offered a voluntary redundancy, call the Member Service Centre on 1300 137 636. They are being kept up-to-date on any developments in the Department.
Health and Safety
There was a discussion of the activities on the Department’s Health/Life calendar (including Walk-To-Work Day and the Vampire Shield Blood Donation Challenge), and whether or not staff are covered for Workers’ Compensation while participating in such activities. CPSU representatives argued that the Department should take responsibility for advising staff if they were covered prior to the events. Management responded that Comcare’s advice was not definitive. We recommended that you seek written advice that an activity is sanctioned by the Department prior to participation.
Take Cover: CPSU members are covered by CPSU journey insurance if they are injured to or from work or in their lunch break. Find out more atwww.cpsu.org.au
Bullying and Harassment
The staff survey showed that 27% of staff had been bullied (higher for diversity groups) and that 23% of staff thought that bullying was part of the culture of the Department. Furthermore, 47% of staff felt that concerns raised with Management were not taken seriously. In response to this, People Branch will be delivering “tailored solutions” to work areas identified as having higher than usual levels of bullying and harassment.
CPSU members: if you or a workmate is being bullied, contact your workplace delegate, local organiser or call the Member Service Centre on 1300 137 636. Bullying is not acceptable.
Leave Record Checking
Some errors were found by People Branch in the calculations of staff leave entitlements. It is estimated that approximately 10% of staff are affected. People Branch are correcting the leave balances. Your NSPF asked Management if staff would be advised if their records had changed, and whether the changes would be explained. Management said they would not be contacting affected staff. The CPSU encourages all staff to check their records and to lodge a written enquiry on HR Assist if there are any unexpected changes. One member has recently noticed a reduction in personal leave of 800 hours and is following this up.
CPSU members: If you are unsatisfied by the explanation given by HR Assist, call the Member Service Centre on 1300 137 636.
