The CPSU recently conducted an online survey of around 1,000 workplace delegates across the APS to gain a better insight into the pressure caused by recent budget cuts.
The survey revealed major problems for staff and customers alike including unmanageable work loads, declining work standards, increased delays and dangerous levels of customer frustration and aggression in frontline service delivery areas.
Background:
Late last year the Government announced a program of deep cuts to public spending as part of the Mid Year Economic Forecast and Outlook (MYEFO), including a $700 million reduction to capital expenditure and a one-off increase in the ‘efficiency dividend’ from 1.5% to 4%. All up these measures will take $2.2 billion out of the public sector, putting pressure on essential jobs and services.
Where the axe has fallen:
So far staff reductions or voluntary redundancies have been announced in a range of agencies including: Human Services; Customs; Treasury; Veterans Affairs; Climate Change; Bureau of Statistics; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Resources, Energy and Tourism. Looking ahead to the May Budget the CPSU is concerned more jobs and services will be lost as the Government strives to deliver a surplus at any cost.
A strong voice:
Based on the survey results, the CPSU has stepped up efforts to protect essential jobs and services. Over recent weeks CPSU delegates and officials have put our concerns directly to many Government Ministers and local MPs. We have also prepared formal submissions to the Government and made many strong media statements about the damage continual cuts are doing.
CPSU delegates show support:
At the same time, CPSU delegates have been providing direct workplace support to union members in agencies facing redundancy and/or redeployment. Working with members and management, our focus has been on trying to ensure:
no forced redundancies
all staff are properly consulted about changes that effect them
‘pain’ is shared equally and SES are not immune from cuts
all agencies explore sensible efficiency measures before cutting jobs
staff have access to redeployment within agencies or across the service
all enterprise agreement rights and entitlements are respected
all voluntary redundancy processes are transparent and fair
workloads are reasonable and service standards are adjusted to match staffing levels.
Action on redeployment:
Following strong representation from the CPSU earlier in the year, the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has issued a new and improved APS Redeployment policy which ensures employees who want to be redeployed to another agency because of staff cuts, can now do so.
Care about jobs and services? Join the CPSU today:
Throughout this difficult process, CPSU delegates are working hard to ensure union members are properly consulted and their rights and entitlements are respected. CPSU delegates and officials are also putting union members’ concerns directly to the Government, agencies and the media. If you are not yet a CPSU member, now is great time join. Talk to your delegate, call 1300 137 636 or JOIN ONLINE NOW. If you are already a member, please share this bulletin with your workmates.
Axe falling on jobs, not 'wasteful' spending:
In a statement accompanying the release of MYEFO, Finance Minister Penny Wong outlined a list of savings measures agencies should pursue before considering cutting jobs. This included reducing spending on contractors, travel, hospitality, advertising, printing and training. However the results of our survey indicate that many agencies have pushed ahead with job cuts before seeking savings in non-staffing areas. The CPSU will continue to vigorously pursue this issue with the Government and agencies.
Survey results at a glance
Over the past six months, how have things changed in your workplace?
increased workloads and targets: 78.9%
increased customer waiting times: 58.5%
reduction in quality/cutting corners: 61.2%
problems accessing leave: 43.4%
an increase in unplanned leave: 52.3%
Over the past six months, how have staffing levels changed?
call for voluntary redundancies: 24.3
not filling vacant positions: 74%
reduction in SES numbers: 12.7%
staff doing duties they’re not trained in: 46.8%
cutting temps and contractors: 44.1%
Over the past six months, have you (*DHS only) observed and/or experienced an increase in:
"Staff are experiencing high levels of burnout, anxiety and depression. Unplanned leave is through the roof in this office." DHS
"All overtime has been stopped, even though there is work piled up everywhere." DHS
"There are often 20 metre queues out the door. Staff are being abused by people all the time because they have to wait too long." DHS
"I work in a serious fraud area where key positions have been vacant for up to six months. The Government is losing millions by trying to save thousands." ATO
"Import volumes continue to increase but staff numbers do not. The result of course is less time to spend on each item, which increases the risk to the border." Customs
"Management installed a new phone system that monitors our calls. They haven't switched on the feature that tracks our toilet breaks yet, so we still have that to look forward to!" DIAC
"We are bleeding corporate knowledge. We now have very inexperienced people in key positions." DAFF
"Cut backs in budgets mean less spending on the displays. We now charge an entry fee for all temporary exhibitions." National Archives
"We spend so much time reacting to urgent requests and putting out fires that we don't have time to do the fundamental work such as correct file keeping and managing contracts properly..." DEEWR
"People are becoming cynical, jaded and weary. This leads to more people leaving, which is making the whole situation even worse." Defence
"We are very short staffed. We often take no action on matters because we have insufficient resources." ASIC
"We get hassled if we take personal leave... we feel guilty if we have to call in sick." FaHCSIA
Posted by:steve h - 24 Apr 2012, 3:46pm Julia Gillard said this today, "Of course every Australian should be able to go to their workplace and feel safe at work, safe in every way, and every Australian should be treated decently in their workplace."
Somehow I think she has forgotten about Public Servants.
Posted by:TM - 24 Apr 2012, 10:18am We've just had an offer of voluntary redundancy. Everyone is seriously worried about their jobs because we've been told that if not enough people take VR, redundancies will be enforced. Just adds to the serious lack of morale we are all experiencing at the moment. We are overworked, underpaid and all management cares about is stats - number of calls, 'adherence' etc. Working in a rostered environment (where going to the toilet at a non-scheduled time means you're out of adherence) is extremely stressful. Now we have the added stress of uncertain job security and unreasonable work targets. Something has to give! A bit of respect for the work we do would be nice...
Posted by:Bunny - Immigration - 23 Apr 2012, 11:59am In my dept, one IT branch is being disbanded but the workers and their functions are being transferred into other areas. The end result is that one layer of managers (mainly directors) are being moved to replace contractors and some people acting. So far, only a few staff are leaving. Some rare good news, well mostly good.
Posted by:Carolyn - 20 Apr 2012, 1:21pm The CPSU and public servants in govt depts worried about job cuts should be venting their anger towards the incompetent management in these organisations who ride the gravy train and don't care about lower level employees, workloads, efficiency or effectiveness. How are these people keeping their inflated salaried jobs while "Rome burns"?
Posted by:Selective tough times - 20 Apr 2012, 10:27am The government could still afford to give $250-$300k per year pay increases to some department heads for no commensurate increase in their personal productivity. As previously observed very selective tough economic times indeed.
Downloadable docs
Workplace Handout Overview of APS delegates survey results into impact of budget cuts for members and potential members Download the PDF
Julia Gillard said this today, "Of course every Australian should be able to go to their workplace and feel safe at work, safe in every way, and every Australian should be treated decently in their workplace." Somehow I think she has forgotten about Public Servants.
We've just had an offer of voluntary redundancy. Everyone is seriously worried about their jobs because we've been told that if not enough people take VR, redundancies will be enforced. Just adds to the serious lack of morale we are all experiencing at the moment. We are overworked, underpaid and all management cares about is stats - number of calls, 'adherence' etc. Working in a rostered environment (where going to the toilet at a non-scheduled time means you're out of adherence) is extremely stressful. Now we have the added stress of uncertain job security and unreasonable work targets. Something has to give! A bit of respect for the work we do would be nice...
In my dept, one IT branch is being disbanded but the workers and their functions are being transferred into other areas. The end result is that one layer of managers (mainly directors) are being moved to replace contractors and some people acting. So far, only a few staff are leaving. Some rare good news, well mostly good.
The CPSU and public servants in govt depts worried about job cuts should be venting their anger towards the incompetent management in these organisations who ride the gravy train and don't care about lower level employees, workloads, efficiency or effectiveness. How are these people keeping their inflated salaried jobs while "Rome burns"?
The government could still afford to give $250-$300k per year pay increases to some department heads for no commensurate increase in their personal productivity. As previously observed very selective tough economic times indeed.