DFSI PSA action opposing forced relocations – June 2017 (PDF version)

Maitland and Newcastle members will be aware of the recent media interest that has been generated in the Hunter press in relation to the impact that the forced relocation of 39 Office of State Revenue, Fees & Fines roles to Gosford will have on the local Maitland economy.

See NBN and Newcastle Herald articles HERE and HERE.

The PSA is in communication with the office of Maitland state MP Jenny Aitchison. We will continue to share information with her office and coordinate around further actions that can be taken to stand up for the residents of Maitland, their families and the local economy.

The PSA will also be approaching Shadow Finance Minister Clayton Barr MP, and local Newcastle representatives in the coming days about how we might collaborate.

Gosford relocations CC

PSA staff and your delegates met with OSR Director Stephen Brady and other management representatives on Monday 19 June to discuss various updates on the relocation to Gosford, and also to push our position that we are opposed to any forced relocation of any staff from Parramatta (OSR or Fair Trading Contact Centre), Maitland or Newcastle, to Gosford.

We want Stephen Brady to explore other options with the union.

Option 1

On 6 June DFSI Secretary Martin Hoffman announced the Department would embrace flexible work options, and invited DFSI staff to register an expression of interest (EOI) if they wished to work in Gosford. The PSA put it to Stephen Brady that we want DFSI to relocate roles through this process and not by way of forced relocations of OSR and Fair Trading Contact Centre staff. Management was not closed to this idea, but was cautious in giving any false hope that this could occur. It would be dependent on the uptake and suitability of the EOIs. Management also confirmed this EOI is not limited to staff in Sydney but is open to anyone, anywhere. It agreed to issue further communications to verify this.

Option 2

In the alternative, other flexible work practices may be considered by the Department in certain circumstances. This may include commuting to the ‘home office’ in Gosford two or three days per week, and working from another location closer to your home on the other days, or indeed, working from home on a day or two, if possible.

We will provide a further update to members shortly.