Your union, CPSU, following consultation with DHCS and CMD, successfully campaigned for a variation of the DHCS agreement to correct two irregularities in the collective agreement: a casual back-pay and traineeship security.
You have voted to correct these two irregularities. Casual staff employed as Disability Support Officers (DSOs) were losing out on a casual loading paid on the hours they worked. The other irregularity did not provide Trainees employed as Housing Manager Trainees with appropriate job security at the successful completion of the traineeship.
What happened?
Casual DSO staff
CPSU members were losing significant portions of their pay each fortnight –between $90 and $150 per fortnight.
CPSU held a series of meetings with affected members and agreed on a course of action.
CPSU met with DHCS and CMD to fix the issue.
DHCS agreed to look at a CPSU proposal to vary the agreement, which would facilitate payment of the casual loading.
CPSU successfully negotiated for this casual loading to be back-dated to the date of effect of the agreement, 5 April, 2007.
Members will receive considerable back-payments once Shared Services has processed the payments.
Housing Manager Trainees
CPSU members told us they did not have an appropriate mechanism to be promoted to an ASO5 position at the successful completion of the traineeship.
CPSU members would have been required to undertake a second onerous selection process, again with no guarantees of a job at the end.
CPSU met with DHCS and worked collaboratively to find appropriate mechanisms to eliminate a second onerous selection process without any guarantees for successful trainees.
Unions that work
These two important wins show just how effective a strong union is in your workplace. When members are able to talk to other staff and their union about what is happening in their workplace, how it is affecting them, and how it can be improved we can come up with solutions to problems.
Not yet a member?
Thanks to the work and support of CPSU members, DHCS staff have gained a competitive pay rise with no loss of conditions or entitlements. Now is the time to support yourself and your colleagues who have contributed by joining the CPSU. You can join quickly and securely online at https://web.cpsu.org.au/join or by calling 1300 137 636.
