DIAC - 457 Visa processing changes, what are your rights?
25 June 2008, 9:00am
DIAC are centralising the processing of 457 visas to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth – with major impacts on staff in those sites and the other sites that used to do this work.
The DIAC collective agreement (CA) sets up rights and processes for dealing
with such changes. This bulletin explains your rights and what you can do to
make sure your rights are respected.
Change management and your rights
The DIAC CA collective agreement (clauses 9.15 – 9.18) specifically covers
how workplace changes should be dealt with;
Early and effective consultation with employees and their nominated
representatives in the workplace.
Opportunities for staff to identify and provide feedback on the impacts
of the proposed changes – including impacts on your work and job design.
Support for staff – including training and retraining
What does “consultation” mean?
Consultation does not just mean being told what changes are going to occur.
Consultation means;
being given access to information, and
an opportunity to participate prior to decisions, and ]
the opportunity to influence the outcome of management decisions.
457 Visa processing: What should you be consulted about?
CPSU members are identifying some major staffing impacts from the 457
changes, including;
How workloads and backlogs will be managed and any impact on working
hours and leave.
Work and job design is the new centres.
How and when staff will be trained for new work.
Impacts of changing roles on career paths.
CPSU: making sure your rights are respected
CPSU is working to ensure that your rights are respected and that you are not
disadvantaged by any 457 changes. Your union is convening meetings of members in
affected sites and raising these issues with DIAC management.
How you can help
Provide your feedback.
What is happening in your workplace? Are you affected by the changes? Do you
have all the information from management that you need?
What issues or questions do you think need to be addressed?
Do you believe that the changes occurring currently are substantial and
resulting from Government policy and program changes?
To have you say see your CPSU workplace rep or email us at
borders@cpsu.org.au
Join CPSU – and get an expert in your corner.Join online or call 1300 137 636.
