DIAC staff seek assurances around office openings

This is the first step in the agreed national consultative process. Based on your feedback, you union will be drafting a national position for CPSU members to endorse and will take back to your employer for further negotiations seeking assurances from management for all DIAC employees.

Not enough time?

All employees across the service delivery network who work on counters will be affected by this proposal. The Department is proposing an implementation date of 1 October 2008. Staff have expressed their deep concern that DIAC have not allowed sufficient time for their union to;

1. Seek feedback from all affected employees and compile feedback
2. Commence discussions with management for an acceptable outcome for DIAC employees
3. Report back to affected employees as per the agreed national process.

Your union shares your concerns and will be seeking an extension to the implementation date.

Staff feedback provided

Meetings were conducted in NSW,Victoria, ACT, Sth QLD and Tasmania. Staff feedback/concerns included:

1. When would staff access training?
2. When will affected employees undertake staff meetings?
3. Increased workload, backlogs and concerns about increased pressure on staff regarding unplanned leave
4. Increased pressure from management not to take breaks
5. Staff will be unable to celebrate important social or team events (i.e Christmas gatherings)
6. Current staffing levels not sufficient to deal with extension and potentially increased workloads
7. How will available resources be monitored?
8. Employees are accruing a large number of flex credits and are unable to access entitlement due to staff shortages which potentially will get worse.

Staff seek assurances

Staff have asked their union to negotiate a number of assurances for affected employees including:

1. All staff to be guaranteed time off counters to catch up on backlogs/emails and any other duties otherwise performed during close down periods
2. All staff to be guaranteed access to training in a quantifiable way
3. Assurances that meetings required for the section to be held in standard business hours and if meetings are held outside of standard business hours, overtime is to be paid at applicable rates
4. A commitment from DIAC that they will monitor resources to facilitate staffs commitment to maintain service delivery standards including agreed timeframes and reporting mechanisms
5. An increase in staff in affected areas

Next steps

Your union will draft a proposal for CPSU members to endorse and take back to your employer seeking the above assurances. The vote will be held both online and via your workplace delegates so please keep an eye out for when the voting process commences. If you are not a member of the CPSU and want to have your say, you can join online today - and remember, staff ability to secure acceptable outcomes is directly linked to your strength. Its time to join today!