The Fair Work Amendment (Improving Unpaid Parental Leave for Parents of Stillborn Babies and Other Measures) Bill 2020 has passed the Senate. This is a Bill long fought for by unionists all around Australia, including your union, the PSA/CPSU NSW. While the legislation is not the high-water mark we have achieved in Ausgrid with regards to paid leave, it is a move in the right direction.
You can find the Bill’s homepage HERE to read MPs’ speeches and update yourself on its contents.
It is particularly important to thank the women and families who shared their stories so generously to make this reform a reality, including our members.
The Bill amends and clarifies “the minimum leave entitlements for parents of stillborn babies and babies who die during the first 24 months of life, and providing that where a baby remains in hospital or is hospitalised immediately following birth, the employer and employee can agreed to the employee returning to work while their baby is in hospital and recommencing their unpaid parental leave when the baby is discharged; and provide the ability for employees who are eligible to take unpaid parental leave (UPL) to take up to 30 days of their 12-month entitlement to UPL flexibly, including on a single-day basis, within 24 months of the birth or adoption of a child.”
This is great news for our Federal system members and shows the way forward together for those of us working in the State system. If you want to get more involved in this reform, you can contact your workplace delegate or women’s councillor: psa.asn.au/women/womens-council.
In solidarity,
Stewart Little