Anger as workers' insurance reduced

COMMONWEALTH public servants are no longer entitled to claim damages for accidents on the way to work or during lunch breaks after an overhaul aimed at slashing the cost of their compensation scheme. (By Annabelle Crabb SMH 04 July 2007)

What's so fair about that?

With a tough election looming, the Howard Government is trying to neutralise community concerns about its WorkChoices laws by introducing a new so-called 'fairness' test.

The changes have been rightly dismissed as cynical pre-election window-dressing.

We reckon if the Government is really serious about fairness in the workplace, there are plenty of issues to tackle... and we've put together a short list.

Compensation: Recent Government changes mean over 100,000 staff have lost workers compensation coverage for journeys to and from the office. The change does nothing to make workplaces safer and simply shifts the costs and risks from employer to employee.

Unfair dismissals: The Howard Government’s laws exclude over four million Australians from unfair dismissal protection, simply because their employer has fewer than 100 employees. Under WorkChoices employers with more than 100 staff can use the 'operational grounds' loophole to sack workers and avoid an unfair dismissal claim.

Working Hours: According to ABS figures, almost a third of Australian employees work unsocial hours - between 7pm and 7am - and most have no say about when they start or finish. About half of the 37 per cent of employees who work overtime do so for no extra pay. None of which will be a surprise to the tens of thousand of CPSU members already struggling to balance their work and home lives.

Collective bargaining: Under WorkChoices, employers hold all the cards. Even where a majority of employees vote in favour of making a collective agreement, employers can ignore your wishes and offer individual contracts, or simply refuse to negotiate. Ironically the Government are now spending big money promoting collective bargaining to small businesses as way to ensure they are not disadvantaged by larger and more powerful businesses. So collective bargaining - sticking together to get a fair deal - is a good idea for small business, but somehow not for employees.

AWAs: In a growing number of public service agencies, new employees are denied the opportunity to choose between collective agreements or AWA individual agreements. And in some workplaces AWAs continue to be used to undermine collective agreements, not to improve pay and conditions.

Have your say:Is the Government doing enough to address the issues that matter to you? Are there other issues they need to address? Post a comment

The real cost of soldiering on...

Management pressure on employees to 'soldier on' at work when they are unwell is costing the Australian economy almost four times as much as absenteeism, according to a recent survey.

The report commissioned by Medibank Private, claims that 'presenteeism' - the lost of productivity that occurs when employees attend work while not fully functioning -is contributing to a $25 billion dollar black hole in lost productivity every year.

The health insurer estimates the annual cost to the economy of 'soldiering on' is almost four times that of absenteeism, only $7 billion by comparison.

Read more here and leave a comment below.

Crossing the line

The removal of journey claims from workers compensation rules is fuelling confusion in public service ranks with employees and managers unsure exactly where coverage begins and ends.

A recent case in Victoria exposed one of the 'grey areas' created by the Governments recent cuts to the compensation scheme for Australian public servants.

Read more here and post your thoughts below.

Working round the clock

As the Howard Government seeks to soothe unease about its workplace laws, a Bureau of Statistics survey reveals the deep incursion work has already made into family and community life.

The figures show 37 per cent of employees work overtime or extra hours - and about half of them do so for no extra pay. Three in five said they had no say about when they started or finished.

Download the ABS report here and please post a comment.

Survey says... hands off our compo rights

A CPSU survey of more than 500 public sector workers from all major government agencies has revealed alarm and confusion about a Howard Government plan to slash public service compensation arrangements and remove cover for journey to and from work.

Over 90% of respondents to the survey were 'very concerned' at the proposed legislative changes.

The legislation currently before the Senate includes:
* removal of compensation protection for injuries sustained during travel to and from work;
* removal of coverage for accidents during lunch and other breaks, or during lunch-time sporting activities.
* harsher claim assessments for workers suffering from psychological and stress related conditions
* an expanded list of management actions that can be potentially excluded from future claims

Close to one-third indicated that the removal of compensation for travel and lunch-time activities would make them less likely to continue walking or riding to and from work, exercising or keeping active during rest breaks.

Nearly 65% of public servants surveyed also felt their employer was not doing enough to reduce the causes of work related stress.

"At times I like to take a walk during breaks or ride my bike, promoting a healthy lifestyle. What am I to do if I have a serious fall or hit by another person?" asked one Medicare employee.

"Many of my staff travel interstate for meetings. Will they be covered on their way to the meeting locations, no matter how they travel, and on their return?" asked Veronica, a public servant.

CPSU National Secretary Stephen Jones condemned the changes as "unfair and unworkable".
"The Government is using these changes simply to cut costs rather than taking positive steps to ensure public sector workers work in an safe and healthy environment," he said.

"The removal of travel and break coverage is just dead wrong. These changes are in stark contrast to existing arrangements for Federal politicians who retain full coverage for injury or illness - whether on the job, traveling or on a break." he said.

"We all know that a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise can reduce the chance of getting stress related injuries. So why is the Government making it harder and more risky for its own staff to stay healthy? asked Mr Jones.

CPSU members are stepping their campaign against the changes with hundreds of online protests sent to Government ministers and Senators last week and further actions planned.

"We'll continue to take this issue up to the Government. All politicians need to be aware of the negative implications of these changes on the public service," he said.

Despite an overwhelming majority of critical submissions, a recent Government controlled senate enquiry rubber-stamped the legislation. The bill is now due for final consideration by the senate later this month.

How you can help:

Post your comments below
Send a protest letter
Complete our brief online survey
Read other members comments
Read the ALP's position.
Download and distribute a bulletin
Keep up to date with all the latest compo news

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

Compo rights slashed for PS workers:

Did you know the Howard Government has just endorsed new laws which radically reduce workers’ compensation rights in the public sector?

The wide-ranging changes will affect public servants who drive, use public transport, ride bicycles or walk to or from work.

They will also make work-related injury claims more costly, contentious and complicated. We need your help to raise awareness about the issue your workplace.

Follow the links to find out more, complete our survey and send a protest letter.