Fair Work hearing sends bargaining back in the right direction
9 March 2012, 12:24pm
CPSU met with FaHCSIA and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) in a Fair Work conciliation hearing on Thursday, 1 March. While conciliation meetings are confidential in nature, we can say that the discussion was useful. A further hearing is tentatively scheduled for next Thursday, but all parties are keen to avoid this being necessary.
Meanwhile, CPSU and FaHCSIA are finalising the words of the draft EA and expect that we will be able to proceed to a CPSU member vote shortly. The dispute is not currently holding up the bargaining process.
You’ll need to be a member to participate in the vote, so if you’re not yet a member now’s the time to join to have your say.
Why are we in Fair Work Australia?
The ‘dead hand’ of the APSC has again been interfering with bargaining in FaHCSIA and delaying the process with inconsistent advice and a lack of transparency in decision making. The two issues delaying the process at the end of bargaining are EL TOIL and a consistent pay outcome for all classifications in the Enterprise Agreement.
The agreed position between FaHCSIA and the CPSU that all classifications should receive the 9.2% outcome has now been put to the Special Minister of State. This would include Senior Legal Officers and Public Affairs Officers. The APSC and the SMOS will now be considering the position and is expected to respond within a few days. We will need to hear back from the SMOS before deciding whether or not to proceed with a further conciliation hearing next Thursday.
Significant advancements on EL TOIL
We have made significant advances with FaHCSIA in the work we have been doing on EL.
Some of the key advancements we have made include -
In the EA:
FaHCSIA does not support EL’s working unreasonable additional hours.
Additional hours include extra time worked in the office, at home and travel outside ordinary hours.
Reasonable requests for time off will not be refused.
ELs who work in the Christmas close down will get 2 hours off for every hour worked.
And the supporting guidelines will state:
“All managers will ensure that TOIL is considered whenever their EL employees work additional hours…”
The data provided to the Workplace Consultative Forum on TOIL usage 6 months after the commencement of the EA will determine if the guidelines should be subject to a review process.
TOIL can be approved for less than a day, a whole day or for up to 5. Further deails should be available shortly.
Next steps – CPSU member vote
Despite the interference of the APSC, the CPSU and FaHCSIA have been finalising the words of the draft EA. CPSU will then proceed to a members vote to see if we have a deal. Now’s the time to join to have your say.
Join today
Join the CPSU in seeking a better outcome for all FaHCSIA staff. Call 1300 137 636 or join online here.
Want to find out more?
Email your CPSU bargaining team here. Or see the CPSU FaHCSIA bargaining webpage here.
