In April 2007, the Howard Government used its Senate majority to drastically reduce workers' compensation arrangements for public sector workers.
Among many other changes, the Government removed workers' compensation cover for public servants who are injured while travelling to or from home to work.
As this part of the CPSU's campaign against the Howard Government's changes, the CPSU has decided to introduce its own 'income maintenance insurance' for union members. The idea is to provide a 'safety net' while the campaign for a better deal continues.
To read more, click here.
What do you think about CPSU providing journey cover insurance to its members? Have your say below?
Showing posts with label Rights At Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rights At Work. Show all posts
Monday, 27 August 2007
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Your say on new ACTU ads
As the election draws closer, the ACTU has launched a new series of hard-hitting Your Rights At Work television commercials.
In the first ad, Annette Harris talks about her experience at Spotlight where she was offered an AWA individual contract that removed penalty rates, overtime and meal breaks - all for an extra 2 cents an hour.
In the second ad, a grandfather talks about how - under WorkChoices - his children and grandchildren have lost the workplace rights his generation had fought so hard for.
In the first ad, Annette Harris talks about her experience at Spotlight where she was offered an AWA individual contract that removed penalty rates, overtime and meal breaks - all for an extra 2 cents an hour.
In the second ad, a grandfather talks about how - under WorkChoices - his children and grandchildren have lost the workplace rights his generation had fought so hard for.
Spolight on fairness: Annette Harris ad.
Grand dad ad.
Monday, 18 June 2007
Telstra bullying staff: Tough Call
In a program called Tough Call the ABC's Four Corners has exposed widespread management bullying, punishing performance targets and relentless monitoring of individuals’ time and movements in Telstra.
These are issues that members in Telstra - and many other CPSU workplaces - have been campaigning around for many years. We are encouraging members and supporters who have seen the program to post a comment below.
These are issues that members in Telstra - and many other CPSU workplaces - have been campaigning around for many years. We are encouraging members and supporters who have seen the program to post a comment below.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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.
TRENT SMITH'S WITCH-HUNT
After being the subject of an extraordinary political 'witch-hunt', CPSU member Trent Smith is at the centre of an explosive legal battle set to test the limits of the Public Service 'Code of Conduct'.Trent Smith was dismissed from his Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) job last July after being accused of acting politically when he advised an Opposition staffer to check the Hansard record of Parliamentary proceedings and other public sources of information.
The case has taken 4½ years and involved DFAT trawling through 8000 emails and spending a million dollars of tax-payers' money.
Learn more here and post a comment below. Check out recent media reports here.
DFAT-sacking-a-gross-overreaction
Diplomat-threatened-dfat-head-court-told
Govt should drop witch-hunt and reinstate Trent Smith now (CPSU media release)
DFAT-may-probe-spys-suicide
Bureaucrats-agog-at-evidence-of-skulduggery-in-ranks
Govt witness contradicts himself at unfair dismissal hearing
Diplomat-drops-more-bombshells
Envoys-past-faces-tough-scrutiny
Diplomat-tells-of-46m-in-bank-account
Key Govt witness admits being mystery source
Diplomat-tells-of-giving-loans-to-thai-drug-dealers
Thursday, 17 May 2007
Tripped up by new compo rules
Twelve hours after new workers comp rules came into effect, an accident on the way to work sent one public service manager sprawling. With the new laws, introduced by the Howard Government, public servants are no longer covered for accidents and injuries sustained traveling to and from work and during lunch breaks spent away from the workplace.
To read Annette's* story click here.
What do you think about the changes to compo laws? Post your comments below.
Behind the Bastard Boys
The 1998 waterfront dispute was brought vividly to life this week in the ABC's Bastard Boys telemovie. Nine years ago a stevedoring company tried to sack its 1,400 employees and the ensuing battle between Patrick Stevedores and the Maritime Union of Australia has gone down in history as one of Australia's most important industrial and political events.
To read an opinion piece by Josh Bornstein (a lawyer who played a key role in winning the dispute) click here.
What did you think of the ABC's portrayal of the dispute? Post your comments below.
Monday, 30 April 2007
ALP's IR policy revealed
Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard fleshed out the ALP's proposed industrial relations policies at Labor's National Conference over the last few days.
Click here for Kevin Rudd's "Forward with Fairness" speech to ALP National Conference on 28th April 2007
Click here for Julia Gillard's "Forward with Fairness" speech to ALP National Conference on 28th April 2007
Click here for Kevin Rudd's and Julia Gillard's "Federal Labor's Fair And Balanced Industrial Relations Policy" joint statement released on 28th April 2007
Tell us what you think
What do you think about the ALP's proposed changes to industrial relations laws? Post your comments below.
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Rudd reveals part of his IR agenda
In a major speech at the National Press Club yesterday, ALP Leader Kevin Rudd outlined some of his alternative workplaces relations plan. It includes introducing a national IR system for the private sector, abolishing AWA's, outlawing strikes without secret ballots, and re-introducing streamlined unfair dismissal laws.
The ACTU says its "a good start". Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey called it a "donkey", while business groups remain "luke-warm".
But what do you think? Please post a comment.
Monday, 26 March 2007
WorkChoices: one year on
This week marks the one-year anniversary of 'WorkChoices' - the Howard Government's radical rewrite of Australia's industrial relations (IR) laws. After twelve months, we want to know what you think about the new laws. Please take a minute to vote in our snap poll here and post a comment about the new laws.
More information
ACTU fact-sheet: IR laws 1 year on
download
ACTU full report: IR laws 1 year on
download
Friday, 9 March 2007
Have your say on the new ACTU WorkChoices ads
New ACTU television ads launched at the weekend use the Howard Government's own official figures to demostrate how the new IR laws are hurting many Australians.
The new ads reveal how AWA's are being used to reduce many employment conditions including: overtime, penalty rates, annual leave loading, public holiday pay, shift allowances and rest breaks.
What do you think about the ads? Check out the ad on YouTube below and post your comments below.
Media report: ACTU probes details of AWAs (from ABC online)
The new ads reveal how AWA's are being used to reduce many employment conditions including: overtime, penalty rates, annual leave loading, public holiday pay, shift allowances and rest breaks.
What do you think about the ads? Check out the ad on YouTube below and post your comments below.
Media report: ACTU probes details of AWAs (from ABC online)
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
The challenges ahead in 2007
Dear CPSU members and supporters,
This year will be crucial - not just for the union movement but for all Australians.
The federal election - which is expected in about seven months - represents a turning point for Australian Society.
Do we accept the continued denigration of worker’s rights under the current Coalition Government or is Australia a country that still believes in the fair go?
CPSU has consulted widely with members, delegates and activists about alternatives to the Government's extreme WorkChoices legislation.
The message we are getting back is loud, clear and unmistakable - people do care about their rights at work, a fair go and want a system that benefits the employee as well as the employer.
We will continue to consult with members both in face-to-face meetings and through phone conversations. In marginal seats CPSU members and supporters are banding together to ensure the issue of worker's rights is front and centre in the minds of candidates from all parties.
CPSU will also continue to support the ACTU's Your Rights at Work campaign to get rid of the utterly unfair WorkChoices.
More than 70 new agreements are to be negotiated this year - in agencies large, medium and small including Immigration and Citizenship, the Department of Health and Ageing, ACT Government, NT Government, the National Maritime Museum, Australian Federal Police and Medibank Private to name just a few.
At the same time as we are winning new agreements, we will also be focusing on enforcing existing ones.
We now know that under WorkChoices winning a good agreement is only half the battle. Thanks to the Howard Government's IR laws, employers have more opportunity than ever to wriggle out of commitments or undercut collective agreements.
In fact - to protect your pay, conditions and rights at work - it has never been more important to stick with the union.
As well as workplace laws and bargaining, CPSU members and supporters will face other challenges and opportunities this year including changes to super, workers' comp and OHS, attacks on the public sector, as well as the fallout from the federal election.
CPSU Governing Council - 70 workplace representatives directly elected by you - is meeting in March to determine the union's policy and priorities for the next 12 months.
There is no doubt 2007 is shaping up to be one of the busiest ever for CPSU members. But I am confident that with the right plan - and your ongoing support - we will not only survive 2007 but grow, so we can continue to make a positive difference in workers' lives.
If you are not a member, you can find out about joining today here or by calling 1300 137 636.
Please feel free to post your comments below.
In unity,
Stephen Jones
CPSU National Secretary
This year will be crucial - not just for the union movement but for all Australians.
The federal election - which is expected in about seven months - represents a turning point for Australian Society.
Do we accept the continued denigration of worker’s rights under the current Coalition Government or is Australia a country that still believes in the fair go?
CPSU has consulted widely with members, delegates and activists about alternatives to the Government's extreme WorkChoices legislation.
The message we are getting back is loud, clear and unmistakable - people do care about their rights at work, a fair go and want a system that benefits the employee as well as the employer.
We will continue to consult with members both in face-to-face meetings and through phone conversations. In marginal seats CPSU members and supporters are banding together to ensure the issue of worker's rights is front and centre in the minds of candidates from all parties.
CPSU will also continue to support the ACTU's Your Rights at Work campaign to get rid of the utterly unfair WorkChoices.
More than 70 new agreements are to be negotiated this year - in agencies large, medium and small including Immigration and Citizenship, the Department of Health and Ageing, ACT Government, NT Government, the National Maritime Museum, Australian Federal Police and Medibank Private to name just a few.
At the same time as we are winning new agreements, we will also be focusing on enforcing existing ones.
We now know that under WorkChoices winning a good agreement is only half the battle. Thanks to the Howard Government's IR laws, employers have more opportunity than ever to wriggle out of commitments or undercut collective agreements.
In fact - to protect your pay, conditions and rights at work - it has never been more important to stick with the union.
As well as workplace laws and bargaining, CPSU members and supporters will face other challenges and opportunities this year including changes to super, workers' comp and OHS, attacks on the public sector, as well as the fallout from the federal election.
CPSU Governing Council - 70 workplace representatives directly elected by you - is meeting in March to determine the union's policy and priorities for the next 12 months.
There is no doubt 2007 is shaping up to be one of the busiest ever for CPSU members. But I am confident that with the right plan - and your ongoing support - we will not only survive 2007 but grow, so we can continue to make a positive difference in workers' lives.
If you are not a member, you can find out about joining today here or by calling 1300 137 636.
Please feel free to post your comments below.
In unity,
Stephen Jones
CPSU National Secretary
Tuesday, 12 December 2006
SEND A MESSAGE TO KEVIN AND JULIA:
Shortly I will be seeking meetings with the newly elected ALP leaders Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and other Shadow Minsisters.
I want to ensure the leaders of the alternative Government understand the issues that are important to CPSU members - such as fairer workplace laws and a strong, independent public sector.
But are there other priority issues the CPSU should take up with the ALP?
The Enviroment? Welfare? Health? Education? Skills? Medibank?
Please feel free to post your thoughts below and let us know what you're looking for from the new look Federal Opposition.
In Unity
Stephen Jones
CPSU National Secretary.
I want to ensure the leaders of the alternative Government understand the issues that are important to CPSU members - such as fairer workplace laws and a strong, independent public sector.
But are there other priority issues the CPSU should take up with the ALP?
The Enviroment? Welfare? Health? Education? Skills? Medibank?
Please feel free to post your thoughts below and let us know what you're looking for from the new look Federal Opposition.
In Unity
Stephen Jones
CPSU National Secretary.
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Hundreds and thousands rally on the National Day of Action
The Nov 30 rallies and marches across Australia in support of fairer workplace laws were an overwhelming success. It's estimated that more than 300,000 workers and their families - including many thousands of CPSU members - exercised their right to protest against the Federal Government's unfair workplace laws. Tell us your stories from the day or post your message of support below.
To read more click here. Check out photos here. Check out videos here. Send your photos / video links to pix@cpsu.org.au
Wednesday, 29 November 2006
CPSU wins “Nov 30” leave case
Action by the CPSU has overturned a Federal Court decision preventing public servants using their leave entitlements to attend the ACTU national protests on November 30.
A full bench has today upheld the right of an Office of Employment Advocate (OEA) employee to seek leave to participate in the November 30 rally.
CPSU National Secretary, Stephen Jones said the decision is crucial for two reasons. "Firstly, it confirms that employers do not have the right to tell employees what they can or can't do in their own free time.
"Secondly, it sends a clear message that public service managers must not allow their own political views to dictate how they treat employees.
"The Court has also raised concerns that the OEA's actions may have been a breach of the Public Service Act," he said.
To read more click here.
Read more from:
The Australian
Herald Sun
ABC Online
A full bench has today upheld the right of an Office of Employment Advocate (OEA) employee to seek leave to participate in the November 30 rally.
CPSU National Secretary, Stephen Jones said the decision is crucial for two reasons. "Firstly, it confirms that employers do not have the right to tell employees what they can or can't do in their own free time.
"Secondly, it sends a clear message that public service managers must not allow their own political views to dictate how they treat employees.
"The Court has also raised concerns that the OEA's actions may have been a breach of the Public Service Act," he said.
To read more click here.
Read more from:
The Australian
Herald Sun
ABC Online
Monday, 27 November 2006
Only one option for fair IR laws
While the recent High Court decision was not unexpected, it clarifies that the only remaining way to change the Federal Government's unfair workplace laws is at the ballot box.
On November 14 the High Court ruled by a 5-2 majority that the Federal Government's WorkChoices legislation is constitutional.
It is important to note, however, that the ruling does not mean the High Court considers WorkChoices fair or unfair, merely that it is not unconstitutional.
Being part of the Federal IR system already the ruling will make no direct difference to most CPSU members, but it does confirm that millions more Australian workers have lost rights and that 100 years of protection for working families is gone.
These protections saw workers share in the economic good times through safeguards such as the award system and regular wage increases.
Under WorkChoices these protections are gone.
While the High Court decision was not unexpected, it clarifies that the only remaining way to change these laws is at the ballot box.
This ruling not only allows the Government free reign with the worst excesses of WorkChoices - it also potentially allows for Federal takeover of health, education and pretty much anything else currently legislated for by the States.
The Prime Minister subsequently said he will not use the ruling "for some massive expansion of Commonwealth power". We'll have to wait and see whether this is a "core" or "non-core promise".
So far those worst affected by WorkChoices have been those least able to protect themselves - young workers, the low-skilled and those without union support. But employers now have carte blanche to cut the pay, conditions and rights at work of all Australians.
Following the High Court decision the only way left to create a fairer, inclusive system of industrial relations - and to protect our health and education systems for all - is through the ballot box at the next federal election.
The CPSU, other unions, and the ACTU will now intensify the campaign for a fair set of industrial relations laws and seek community support for a change of Government in the 2007 election.
The next opportunity for people to show the Federal Government what they think of these unfair IR laws comes on Thursday, 30 November with the National Union and Community Day of Action. Hundreds of events will be held throughout the country - all linked through a Sky Channel broadcast from the MCG.
Find out more: www.cpsu.org.au/campaigns/IRCampaign
On November 14 the High Court ruled by a 5-2 majority that the Federal Government's WorkChoices legislation is constitutional.
It is important to note, however, that the ruling does not mean the High Court considers WorkChoices fair or unfair, merely that it is not unconstitutional.
Being part of the Federal IR system already the ruling will make no direct difference to most CPSU members, but it does confirm that millions more Australian workers have lost rights and that 100 years of protection for working families is gone.
These protections saw workers share in the economic good times through safeguards such as the award system and regular wage increases.
Under WorkChoices these protections are gone.
While the High Court decision was not unexpected, it clarifies that the only remaining way to change these laws is at the ballot box.
This ruling not only allows the Government free reign with the worst excesses of WorkChoices - it also potentially allows for Federal takeover of health, education and pretty much anything else currently legislated for by the States.
The Prime Minister subsequently said he will not use the ruling "for some massive expansion of Commonwealth power". We'll have to wait and see whether this is a "core" or "non-core promise".
So far those worst affected by WorkChoices have been those least able to protect themselves - young workers, the low-skilled and those without union support. But employers now have carte blanche to cut the pay, conditions and rights at work of all Australians.
Following the High Court decision the only way left to create a fairer, inclusive system of industrial relations - and to protect our health and education systems for all - is through the ballot box at the next federal election.
The CPSU, other unions, and the ACTU will now intensify the campaign for a fair set of industrial relations laws and seek community support for a change of Government in the 2007 election.
The next opportunity for people to show the Federal Government what they think of these unfair IR laws comes on Thursday, 30 November with the National Union and Community Day of Action. Hundreds of events will be held throughout the country - all linked through a Sky Channel broadcast from the MCG.
Find out more: www.cpsu.org.au/campaigns/IRCampaign
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