Injustice Reins

The Working With Children Check Unit is the first cab off the rank to be forcibly relocated under DOJs crazy regionalisation policy with WWCC being currently situated in Melbourne's CBD, and plans are afoot to move the unit to Box Hill but unfortunately for employees the majority of staff live in the North-Western metropolitan area.

At a recent meeting, CPSU members were shocked, angry and disappointed that DOJ did not even do a postcode search of current employees to determine who and how many people would be affected by this short-sighted and politically motivated decision.

The WWCC unit does not have a frontline customer service function, so from a public perspective, where the unit is located is inconsequential.

The location does have consequences for employees though.

The decision to relocate the Unit to an area outside of the CBD means people will now have to travel up to 7 ? hours extra per week, with additional expense because they would be placed into public transport Zone 2.

This decision will further impact heavily on those people with childcare or aged care needs, requiring extra expense for longer day care and affecting work/life balance.

Management had assured staff that there would be a ‚Äö?Ñ??vacancy management process‚Äö?Ñ?? but we re short on detail.

Perhaps this is because discussions regarding this process took place only after WWCC staff were told of a relocation.

The ‚Äö?Ñ??vacancy management process‚Äö?Ñ?? is designed to capture vacancies across DOJ and give people a chance to apply on merit and at level.

So how is this different from what already is available to employees in the public sector?

DOJ have brought in an expert to help WWCC unit staff with ‚Äö?Ñ??change management‚Äö?Ñ??.

The expert will assess individuals concerns and the DOJ will ‚Äö?Ñ??work it out‚Äö?Ñ??.

Naturally, DOJ would like staff to accept the move and be positive.

It s hard to be positive when you now have excessively long days, with more time and money spent on unreliable and congested public transport.

So much for work/life balance or being able to take advantage of the government s early to work policy.

Consequently, members at WWCC passed the following resolution:

‚Äö?Ñ??The WWCC unit calls on DOJ to consult with CPSU around the regionalisation project and particularly its impact on WWCC unit, with a view to negotiating a fair and realistic relocation package. Further, that DOJ gives clarification on the following: the vacancy management process; redeployment; the role of change managers and how any information collected will be used.‚Äö?Ñ??

A fair and realistic relocation package has been tabled with DOJ, and is part of CPSU's log of claims for VPSA 09.

DOJ have rejected that package and have told staff (but not CPSU) that DOJ will use a ‚Äö?Ñ??reasonableness test and on this basis some staff may get assistance.

Surely, the employee and the industrial agreement should be the decider of what s reasonable?

If this is how DOJ treats its staff in WWCC unit, CPSU can be pretty sure that this is how all relocations will be handled as DOJ pursues its unrealistic regionalisation program.

A fair and decent relocation policy that acknowledges and compensates for longer travel times, increased personal expenses and working days is essential if DOJ is to remain an Employer of any choice.

Please distribute this bulletin and ask your colleagues to join CPSU to have their voice heard.

Our 7 day a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year industrial protection ensures you have the principal public sector organisation looking after your working rights, winning wage increases, protecting your conditions, and providing personal industrial assistance when you need it.


CPSU MEMBERSHIP IS PROTECTION FOR YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. YOUR JOB.

Speak to a colleague today about the benefits of CPSU membership and have them contribute to our successes rather than just enjoying the benefits.


TOGETHER WE DO BETTER!

http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/Work-Can-Change-membership-flyer.pdf
http://www.cpsuvic.org/public_docs/memform.pdf


KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary

Monday, 24 November 2008