Hunter Valley Disability Services Transfer of Business

CPSU NSW update Hunter Valley Disability Services Transfer of Business – Nov 2019 (PDF version)

HVDS has recently written to all staff providing details of the Transfer of Business from HVDS to Ability Options, Connect Ability and Finding Yellow (the HVDS consortium partners).

Key dates

The key dates for the Transfer of Business are set out on pages 1-2 of the HVDS correspondence found HERE and HERE and include the following:

• 18 November 2019 ‘Additional communications defining timetable for scheduled transfer of operations and employment reflecting discussions from consultation period will be distributed to staff’.
• 25 November 2019 ‘Consultation period concludes’.
• 28 January 2020 ‘Final day of staff employment with HVDS’.

Members are encouraged to review the HVDS documentation carefully and to consider any questions or feedback which you can lodge in one of the following ways:

• Directly by emailing HVDS at "> during the consultation period ending 25 November 2019.
• Contacting your union delegates or officials or through the Member Support Centre on telephone 1800 772 679 or by email to "> and quote our reference number CN122927.
• CPSU NSW delegates will be attending a number of upcoming Team Meetings and this is a further opportunity to discuss your concerns or raise any questions regarding the Transfer of Business.
• At the next Hunter Valley Disability Services Workplace Group meeting scheduled for Wednesday 13 November 2019 at 4.30p.m. at the Hunter Unions Building (406-408 King Street, Newcastle West).

Copied State Awards and your ongoing employment conditions

Member will recall previous CPSU NSW updates including the last Bulletin found HERE where we explained that pay and conditions of employment for employees who transferred from ADHC will continue to be covered by the copied State awards for a period of up to five years (December 2022) or until an enterprise agreement is negotiated with your new employers.

As we have previously advised members, that although your employer will change, your pay and conditions will stay the same for up to five years from the date of transfer from ADHC.

The only way that your pay and conditions will change is if you, the CPSU NSW and your new individual employer (either Ability Options, ConnectAbility and Finding Yellow) agree.

Should an enterprise agreement be negotiated in the time between 1 December 2019 and the five-year anniversary of transfer from ADHC, you will have the opportunity to vote on whether you agree with what is proposed. If you are a union member, the CPSU NSW will work with you and negotiate for you.

HVDS JCC meeting and Transfer of Business working party meeting

Your union officials and delegates will be meeting with HVDS on Thursday 14 November 2019 at Warabrook for the Joint Consultative Committee meeting and also for a working party meeting to discuss the Transfer of Business. Please contact your CPSU NSW delegates if you would like us to raise any matters or concerns on your behalf when we meet with HVDS.

For further information, contact Dean Allen, CPSU NSW Industrial Officer, on 1800 772 679 or by email ">.

What can I do in the meantime?

You can support the work of the CPSU NSW by asking your colleagues to JOIN their union.

Having your union and its collective strength behind you in the workplace is the only way to make sure you get fair outcomes.