The CPSU NSW wants to know what you think.
To best represent members’ interests, your union is asking for your opinion on vaccination in the workplace.
The survey, which takes less than five minutes to complete, will be anonymous. Your replies cannot and will not be identified.
To fill out the survey, click HERE.
This morning, the NSW Premier announced additional rules aimed at reducing the transmission of COVID-19.
Currently, the new mandatory vaccination rules only apply to those members who either live or work in the current Local Government Areas (LGA) of concern.
If you are unsure of whether or not you live within an LGA, you can confirm HERE.
The new rules state that:
Disability Support Workers are considered authorised workers.
It appears that these new rules only affect members who either work or live within those LGAs of concern and therefore there are no changes to existing rules for those in the remainder of the state.
The Public Health Orders have not yet been updated following this morning’s announcement and we are currently in discussion with NSW Health. We will provide further information as it becomes available.
In the meantime, the CPSU NSW strongly encourages members to get vaccinated as soon as possible to ensure the safety of themselves, their families, their customers, and the community at large.
If you have and concerns, please contact the CPSU NSW on 1800 772 679. We’re here to help.
Join today at www.cpsunsw.org.au/join.
We have some exciting networking news coming your way!
The CPSU NSW has put together a Facebook group for Disability Workers. The group is another way to provide on-going information on what is happening across the sector, while supporting each other.
This means:
It is an opportunity to connect with Disability Workers throughout the sector through these challenging times.
The CPSU NSW would love you to be a part of the NEW Social Group, as YOU are the Union! Join the NSW Disability Workers Facebook Group HERE.
Please share the link with a co-worker. Members and non-members are welcome.
When we stand together, as workers in an essential industry, we can really make some amazing changes. The more workers we have on our side, the bigger and stronger the CPSU NSW will be.
Member Support Centre 1800 772 679
NSW’s Disability Support Workers need onsite vaccinations and casuals need paid vaccine leave to boost the low rate of COVID-19 protection in the sector, as the CPSU NSW warns NSW Health must stop hand-balling vaccination efforts back to the Federal Government’s faltering roll-out.
The union wrote to NSW Health seeking urgent assistance to get the workforce vaccinated. However, in a brief response your union was directed to federal health website.
“Disability Support Workers are falling through the cracks when it comes to getting vaccinated against COVID-19. A targeted plan, that includes onsite vaccination and support for the highly casualised workforce to get the jab is urgently needed,” said Stewart Little, Branch Secretary of the CPSU NSW.
“Our members want to be vaccinated, but they face barriers in accessing the jab, in particular concerns over missing shifts because side effects and a lack of clarity about how to access the vaccine.”
Since the NSW Government transferred all of NSW’s group homes to private providers, with more than 14,000 former Ageing, Disability, and Home Care staff transferred into the private sector, the workforce has become significantly casualised. Staff often work across homes and with different providers, meaning the possibility of spread among group homes is high.
The union wants to see a plan from the Berejiklian Government that specifically targets the disability sector amid ongoing hesitancy within the workforce. Key elements in any state-run vaccination effort must include payment for Disability Support Workers – including casuals – to go and get vaccinated, making vaccinations available in workplaces, and monitoring the rate of vaccination in the workforce.
“While HSC students are being prioritised, Disability Support Workers and the people they care for, are still navigating the system. We know from surveys of our own members as well as anecdotal reports that there is some hesitancy in this group about the COVID-19 vaccines – the only way to counter that is to actually directly engage with this workforce. If we begin to make the pathway clearer and easier, as well as guaranteeing they won’t be financially worse off I do think we’ll see a rise in the uptake.”
Mr Little said he’d heard of a number of near misses of COVID-19 transmissions within the sector and members expected it was only a matter of time until greater transmission among people living and working within the disability support sector.
“Disability Workers know that many of the people they support are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 – there have already been a number of near misses during Sydney’s outbreak.”
Last month, the Fair Work Commission handed down its annual wage review. The result was a 2.5 per cent increase to wage rates across most Awards, including the Copied State Awards under which transferred staff continue to operate. This wage increase is to be implemented from the first full pay period after 1 July 2021. The CPSU NSW recently wrote to all providers highlighting this requirement and most have informed us that they do not anticipate any issues with this process. We will continue to follow up with employers who have yet to respond to ensure that members receive the benefit of this decision to which they are entitled. Please advise us if there are any concerns about the implementation of this increase.
The decision of the Fair Work Commission to award the latest 2.5 per cent wage increase was due in no small part to the continued efforts of the union movement. Every year the CPSU NSW continues to fight for members’ rights and to improve employment term and conditions; whether it be through bargaining for a new Enterprise Agreement, representing individual members in dispute with their employers or publically lobbying State and Federal leaders. Your CPSU NSW maintains its power to provide these services through you – the members, and the stronger our membership base, the more effective we can be in representing your interests. If you work with any non-members, now is the time to highlight the important role Unions play in achieving real-word improvements such as the latest pay rise and encourage them to join.
Ask them to join the CPSU NSW at www.cpsunsw.org.au/join.
On 16 June 2021 the Fair Work Commission delivered its decision in the Annual Wage Review 2021-22.
The Annual Wages Review determines wage increases to the National Minimum Wage, Modern Awards, copied State awards. It takes into account economic factors such as CPI, inflation, GDP, and the effect that the Covid-19 has had on employment.
The FWC decision raises the National Minimum Wage, and rates of pay in Modern Awards and copied State awards by 2.5 per cent.
Disability Workers in NSW who came across from the NSW Public Sector are covered by copied State awards.
In relation, to employees covered by copied State awards, the Fair Work Commission stated:
[309] The same approach will be taken in respect of copied State awards. These apply in relation to employees of non-national system State public sector employers who transfer their employment to a national system employer as part of a transfer of business. The Panel is required to review and, if appropriate, make a determination varying minimum wages in copied State awards. In the 2017–18 Review decision, the Panel determined that the adjustment to the rates in modern awards determined in that Review would be applied to copied state awards. This approach has been noted in various submissions in this Review and will be taken by us in this Review.
You can view the reasons behind the FWC decision HERE.
All disability workers on Copied State awards will receive a 2.5 per cent pay rise from the first pay period after 1 July 2021.
Victories like this don’t just happen. Unions give workers a voice – a voice which can be heard in the Commission, and around the country.
The ACTU is the peak body of Australian trade unions, and your union is proud to be affiliated with them. Their submission on behalf of union members everywhere was integral to the decision to increase wages.
Join the CPSU NSW at www.cpsunsw.org.au/join.
Covid Vaccine Survey – June 2021
Your union surveyed members in April to find out how many members had received access to a COVID-19 vaccine.
Since then, CPSU NSW General Secretary Stewart Little has met with NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard. CPSU NSW has urged Minister Hazzard to use his offices to better coordinate a whole-of-government response to the vaccination of CPSU NSW members.
The Federal Government has also recently announced that it will set up dedicated
vaccination hubs across Australia for NDIS participants.
Has your access to the vaccine changed following these developments?
Please take a couple of minutes to complete this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DisabilitiesVaccinesurveyP2
The survey will close 5pm Thursday 9 June.
SafeWork NSW has created a short survey to learn more about key work health and safety issues, and the needs of workers and businesses who provide support or undertake other activities for or with people who have a disability.
This survey will help create an updated industry snapshot to guide the activities SafeWork NSW has planned with the industry later in 2021. These activities are part of the Health Care and Social Assistance Sector Plan, which is working towards our vision of ‘SAFER WORK, SAFER CARE’.
The survey is open until 7 May 2021.
Click HERE to start the survey. Or scan the QR code to open the survey and share with others who may be interested in responding.
Meeting – Feb 2021 (PDF version)
We’re inviting all members working in the disability sector in the Newcastle area to a members’ meeting.
You will find out the latest news from across the sector and be able to participate in discussion about what’s happening in your area.
It’s a good opportunity to share your ideas and opinions.
Find out the latest news from across the membership. Meet up with other union members and have a discussion with your Union Officials and representatives.
When
4 March 2021
Time
2:00pm-3:30pm
Where
TAFE, Tighes Hill Campus
S Block Library S.G.10
Find the location HERE
If you can’t make it in person, you can join the conversation on Zoom.
zoom.us/j/97988397745?pwd=SzdTWUdobTdVczZWeVdhNHBKWENmUT09
Meeting ID: 979 8839 7745
Passcode: 365987
Northcott update (PDF version)
Read how The Sydney Morning Herald reported on our win for Northcott Team Leaders HERE.
On Wednesday afternoon the Federal Court handed down its decision in relation to the status of Service Coordinators, finding their work was the “same, or substantially similar” to that of Team Leaders.
The case was brought by the CPSU NSW on behalf of staff originally transferred from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS), following a 2019 “restructure” of Northcott’s supported independent living services which, among other things, replaced Team Leader positions in group homes with Services Coordinators, slashing the pay of staff who elected to take up those roles.
The CPSU NSW always contended the work of Service Coordinators was the same or substantially similar to Team Leaders and as such, transferring FACS staff in those roles remained covered by copied State instruments, including the Community Living Award 2015 (CLA).
The Federal Court agreed declaring the CLA, the Public Service Conditions Award 2019 and the Public Sector Salaries Award 2017 all continued to cover transferring Team Leaders who had taken up Service Coordinator jobs during Northcott’s restructure.
The decision means those transferred staff revert to the more beneficial award terms, including an entitlement to back pay for any financial losses incurred as a result.
While the full implications of the Court’s decision are yet to be finalised, and we understand Northcott are considering their legal options, we expect to begin discussions with the company shortly.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank those staff who assisted the CPSU NSW with the case.
Click HERE for a copy of the decision or contact the CPSU NSW for further details on 1800 772 679 and ask to speak to a member of our disability services team.
Join the CPSU NSW today HERE
CPSU NSW – THE DISABILITY WORKERS’ UNION
International Day of People with Disability (pdf version)
The 3 December is the International Day of People with Disability, with this year’s theme being “not all disabilities are visible”.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 15 per cent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability. While most people (95.7%) with disability lived in households, 4.3% lived in cared-accommodation.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 4.4 million people or 17.7% of the population live with a disability. While most people (95.7%) with a disability are living in households, 4.3% live in cared accommodation, such as Group Homes.
CPSUNSW/PSA members employed in Disability Services play an essential role in ensuring that the quality of life and care for people in lived in care accommodation, such as group homes, is at the upmost highest.
Please join the CPSUNSW by recognising the vital work that disability workers do by watching this clip HERE.
Not a member of the CPSUNSW? Join online HERE.
NAIDOC – Nov 2020 (PDF version)
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia annually to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
If you are a transferred worker and identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you are entitled to a day off to participate in NAIDOC celebrations. The Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009 (a copied State award) provides for the following leave arrangements
84.9 A staff member who identifies as an Indigenous Australian shall be granted up to one day special leave per year to enable the staff member to participate in the National Aborigines and Islander Day of Commemoration Celebrations. Leave can be taken at any time during NAIDOC week, or in the weeks leading up to and after NAIDOC week as negotiated between the supervisor and staff member.
If you are having difficulty accessing leave, or would like advice on any other workplace issue, please remember, the CPSU NSW is YOUR UNION and we are here to help. Contact your local delegate or the CPSU NSW Member Support Centre, for assistance – 1800 772 679 or via email .
Join the CPSUNSW today at www.cpsunsw.org.au/join.
CPSU NSW – STRONGER TOGETHER!