Since the close down the situation with COVID-19 has drastically shifted. Ensuring we are on top of the emerging issues the PSA and TfNSW have reinstated regular meetings to discuss COVID-19.

You can read a summary of current state of affairs at TfNSW as they relate to COVID-19:

Notifying Your Employer of COVID 19 Diagnosis

Along with a raft of other changes to the Public Health Order, individuals who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are to take all reasonable steps to notify their employer.  Whilst many of you are working from home the PHO does not exempt such workers from notifying their employer.

In accordance with these requirements the PSA understands TfNSW has sent out communication requesting employees notify their line manager or where they are unavailable HR shared services.

Booster Vaccination Work Arrangements

The PSA made representations to TfNSW for employees receiving booster vaccinations for special leave to be available.  TfNSW has confirmed as they have for the previous vaccination they will extend a COVID-19 Vaccination Support Payment for COVID-19 to all Award, Agreement and Senior Service employees, whether fixed term or permanent. Regardless of the time of your vaccination appointment, you can apply to be paid two hours base pay (in addition to normal hours) to attend your vaccination appointment. Employees can apply for this payment three times, once for each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine that they receive, and the following booster shot.

Leave

With the increasing number of people in NSW over the Christmas period contracting COVID-19 it is likely some of you may have been one of those people.  If you are one of those individuals over the Christmas period who contracted COVID-19 like many you may have been on annual leave; if so you may be able to have this annual leave converted sick leave, or where that is unavailable COVID-19 special leave.  For those who were close contacts and required to isolate you may be able to access paid special leave.

We encourage members to have these conversations with their managers.  If members have any questions or require assistance they can contact the PSA.

Moving forward, the 20 days COVID special leave is still operative.  Therefore, if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and are unable to work you can to access available COVID-19 special leave if you have no available sick leave.  If you are unable to work due to isolation, caring for a family member, transport disruption, or caring for a family member due to closure of schools or caring facilities you can continue to access the 20 days of COVID-19 special leave.

Hybrid Ways of Working

The position of TfNSW is where you can continue to work from.  There has been no change in this position.  TfNSW has assured the PSA they will continue to engage with the unions as they assess the situation.

Self Isolation Exemptions

After National Cabinet on Thursday 13 January 2022, the NSW Government implemented exemptions to the already reduced COVID-19 self isolation rules.

The latest amendments made on Friday 14 January 2022 mean workers from certain industries are exempt from the self isolation rules if their employer approves them to work.  It does require these exempt persons to undergo RATs daily for the period of seven days from the day they last had contact with the diagnosed person– a ludicrous ask with the currently restricted availability of the test kits.

It is unlikely many TfNSW employees will fall within the exemptions. You can view these exemptions here.

The PSA has grave concerns regarding the removal of this requirement and the workplace health and safety of our members. The PSA is in discussions with TfNSW about the implications of these exemptions and if any apply to our members and who they have to interact with.

These new rules appear to be attempting to address the labour shortages in some industries not through increased availability of PPE, vaccines and testing, but by attempting to stoically ignore COVID-19’s existence.

The PSA encourages members to put in incident reports where they have been put at risk because of COVID-19, whether this has been because of inadequate personal protection equipment (PPE), lack of adequate risk control measures, or being forced to attend work while a close contact.

RAT

As part of TfNSW COVID Safe Policy there were various sites where TfNSW were to investigate implementing RAT.  At this stage TfNSW has implemented RATs at the TMC, St Helena RTOC and Tugun RTOC, with Tugun and St Helena trialing at home RAT.  There are various outstanding issues with at home RAT including whether this is to be included as work time.  The PSA and TfNSW are in continued discussions.

There remain many critical sites identified in TfNSW COVIDSafe Policy that still do not have RAT available.  The PSA is continuing to raise the expansion of RAT to more sites and advocating for TfNSW to quickly assess their work groups in particular prioritise workgroups who have face to face contact with individuals who will be eligible for exemptions from  self-isolation.

We have been assured TfNSW are assessing the workgroups identified in the COVIDSafe Policy however, the NSW Government is requiring agencies to prioritise the provision on RATS in the workplace in accordance with a peak policy position.  A peak public sector meeting was proceeding this week (week commencing 17 January) to discuss the use and supply of RATs across the sector.  We will be seeking an update from TfNSW on the expansion of their RAT program.