CPSU welcomes ALP broadband plan and PS super guarantee

CPSU National Secretary Stephen Jones today welcomed the ALP’s $4.7 billion broadband plan and Kevin Rudd’s guarantee to cover future public service superannuation liabilities.

A future Labor government would finance it through the $2 billion Communications Fund and the Future Fund's 17% stake in Telstra.

The plan also includes a similar investment from a company such as Telstra or Optus, bringing the total outlay to around $8 billion.

It would connect 98% of Australians at more than 40 times present speeds.

"This will help build and strengthen the economy and create employment throughout the country," said Mr Jones.

"For far too long Australia has lagged behind other developed countries in bandwidth. The ALP's plan to build a high-speed network will redress this imbalance and help ensure economic prosperity long beyond the resources boom.

"This is the sort of forward thinking plan that has been sorely lacking from government. And, as high users of information technology services both at work and home, CPSU members will greatly benefit from this plan," said Mr Jones.

Mr Jones also welcomed Kevin Rudd's guarantee that the retirement provisions for public servants are fully protected.

"The CPSU is satisfied that public service superannuation liabilities will be fully met under the Future Fund and that the money invested in the broadband plan will benefit the whole country and economy. This is a plan with nation building at its core. It should be supported by all sides of politics," said Mr Jones.

More information: Public super 'covered' in $4.7bn broadband plan from The Australian.

Click below to have your say.

CPSU launches Join2Win

Join2Win is a new Your Rights at Work campaign activity designed help you talk to people in your workplace about building your union and voting for fair industrial relations laws.

With the 2007 Federal Election on the horizon, it is more important than ever that CPSU members stand up for their rights at work to protect pay, conditions and to provide job security for themselves, their families and their communities.

Join2Win aims to have 500 members signed up in March and April this year to have conversations about the importance of joining their union and voting for their rights at work. Each of these members will pledge to recruit at least two new members each.

Regardless of whether you are a CPSU activist or a recently joined member, everyone who participates in Join2Win will be supported. Members who sign up will have access to training and resources such as t-shirts, badges, stickers and flyers. They will also have the full support of CPSU organisers throughout the Join2Win campaign.

Join2Win week, starting 30 April 2007, will be the first big Join2Win activity involving all members. Your workplace might hold a Join2Win day, or have a morning tea to welcome new members.

To find out more about Join2Win click here or to sign up to participate, click here.

Have you signed up to Join2Win? Tell us your experiences below.

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

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)

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.

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

Maritime Museum strike action on target

Industrial action taken by staff members at the Australian National Maritime Museum has forced management back to the bargaining table following stalled negotiations for a new collective agreement.

On the eve of Australia Day, CPSU members gathered around the entrance of the museum and entertained visitors with colorful banners and union sea shanties (“what shall we do with a bad employer?”). A corporate ‘pirate’ was also on hand to make honest employees walk the plank. Click here to see photos from the day.

While the strike activities were lighthearted, the decision to take industrial action was a serious one. After their agreement expired in June 2006, Museum management continued to frustrate the bargaining process by delaying negotiations and failing to reply to correspondence. Management also refused to meet with staff and CPSU representatives.

As a result of the industrial action, Museum management agreed to recommence negotiations for a fair and reasonable union collective agreement. Both CPSU and management have committed to lodging an in-principle agreement by the end of February.

CPSU National Secretary Stephen Jones said that going on strike was the last resort for the staff members’.

"These CPSU members tried time and time again to reason with management, they did all the right things, but got nowhere,” Jones said.

“Museum management admitted they were under pressure from the Government to reduce conditions and offer AWAs. This is just another example of how John Howard's radical new workplace laws are affecting everyone in the community.”

Click here to send your letter to support to ANMM staff members, find out more information about the campaign or post your feedback on our blog.