CSA breaches OHS legislation - sign up for safety today!

Section 16 (2)(d) of the OHS Act is clear; when making a Health and Safety Management Agreement an employer is required to develop it in consultation with employees or their representatives. Advice from Comcare is that consultation involves more than merely information sharing.

CPSU wrote to GM Matt Miller on 12 May expressing our deep concern at CSA’s intention to disband the existing National Occupational Health and Safety Committee. Resisting management’s attempts to write your trained representatives, CPSU, out of any future OHS agreements we asked CSA to sit down and negotiate a Health and Safety Management Agreement with CPSU in good faith. The release of the final draft DHS HSMA, allowing for one union nominated employee representative in a committee of 10 members, to all staff for “consultation” shows CSA have rejected this offer.

It is of significant concern that the draft HSMA released by management refers to formation of State OHS committees (4.1.2), but does not consider that your local elected HSRs should be automatic members of these committees.

ATO and Centrelink negotiated HSMAs with CPSU, why not CSA?

CPSU has negotiated Health and Safety Management Agreements with the ATO and Centrelink, among others. CPSU must therefore draw the conclusion that CSA wishes to limit members’ access to union expertise and experience when representing and enforcing their rights regarding OHS.

What can I do?

CPSU is calling on all CSA staff to show their support by Signing up for Safety and writing to CSA demanding they negotiate a Health and Safety Management Arrangement with the CPSU.

Please see your local workplace delegates, sign the petition and ask how you can help.

Not yet a member?

Every CSA staff member who joins the union increases our combined negotiating power. We are stronger together. Supporting the union is great but membership matters. If you are thinking about joining, please contact us to find out how. Call 1300 137 636, join securely online or see your CPSU delegate.