On 1 October management announced that DIAC offices will be opening on Wednesday afternoons from 8 October. Your union has been able to negotiate a form of words which gives staff some protections under the new arrangements.
We are also continuing to pressure DIAC to ensure staff get enough time away
from the counter. Please familiarise yourself with the arrangements so you can
help us ensure management sticks to it.
Background
Over the last six months your union has been working hard with members,
delegates and the Department to try and minimise any negative impacts of the
changes. We have come along way since management’s attempt to extend service
delivery hours in South Australia without even consulting staff.
CPSU action so far
notified a dispute around DIAC’s failure to consult
raised concerns at the National Staff Consultative Forum
forced DIAC to agree to a national consultative framework around the
extension
negotiated paid time access to all affected employees to ascertain staff
concerns
drafted a MOU for member endorsement via workplace delegates in affected
areas
negotiated an outcome with your employer.
What has been achieved
Your union met with DIAC on 17 September to secure assurances in writing
outlined in the draft CPSU MOU. After lengthy discussions and backing from CPSU
members, DIAC management agreed to a number of assurances in full, including:
agreed access to training and development
that terms and conditions would not diminished due to the extension
that employees will not have their work/life balance compromised due to
the extension
that DIAC will commit to ongoing monitoring and reporting of staff
resources in agreed timeframes
Assurances from DIAC that were partially achieved include;
DIAC expect that employees will have time off counters every week – to
catch up on back of house duties (DIAC would not guarantee time off counters
each week due to the fact that in extraordinary circumstances it may be not
be achieved)
DIAC will agree to team meetings in core business hours between 8:30am –
4:55pm but do not expect that staff will need to adjust start or finish
times to attend workplace meetings.
Staff feedback
Staff have acknowledged that the arrangements are a significant step forward
but expressed deep concerns about not having guaranteed time off counters. In
particular, many people feel workload pressures mean management in other areas
may be reluctant to release staff. On this basis your union sought an urgent
meeting with DIAC to pursue further assurances. DIAC has agreed to provide staff
with rosters before the extension and conduct a joint review of the arrangements
with your union after 1 and 3 months of the extension.
Next steps
Your union will be contacting affected workplace workers to discuss the
above. Affected employees now have an agreed framework, in writing, to ensure
that management adhere to their commitments around the extension. If you believe
that management are not operating in accordance with the above, please email
DIAC.members@cpsu.org.au
