news - voting
Union Ranger - November 2009
All QPWS Rangers would be aware that the negotiations for the new collective bargaining agreement were finalised and voted on by all AWU members in August 2009.
All public sector workers across Queensland are waiting for the Government to finalise the balloting process and certification of the agreement.
The Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, has announced that all Queensland Government department and agency staff covered by the Core Agreement will receive early payment and back-pay for their 4.5% wage increase.
This early payment includes back-pay to 1 August 2009 and will be processed no later than the pay period ending 18 December to ensure public servants receive a deserved boost to their pay packets before Christmas.
To ensure that AWU members are kept up-to-date over the next three years, regular updates will be sent to workplace union contacts and delegates and posted on the website.
All members are to be congratulated on the results that were achieved during campaign for the new agreement. The improvements that were gained were as a result of the participation and activity of all existing and new union members.
Remember- if anyone asks “What has the union ever done for me?” you can proudly tell them the improvements gained during the collective bargaining campaign were a result of union members having their say and standing together – Union members are the “Union”. Everyone will receive back pay because of the hard work of union rangers across Queensland.
Keep up the momentum!
The best way to make sure that we protect our rights over the life of the new collective agreement is for everyone to continue to be active in the workplace.
The more Rangers your union delegates and officials represent, the more negotiating power we have in the Rangers Industrial Forum. This will also give us a stronger voice when meeting with the Minister and other senior members of Government.
All AWU members need to continue to grow the union in their workplace to make sure we can maintain the momentum from the collective bargaining campaign.
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RANGER INDUSTRIAL FORUM MEETING NO 1.
The first meeting of the Rangers Industrial Forum (RIF) met on Wednesday, the 11/11/2009 to set up the term of reference and gain agreement around representation.
Prior to this meeting, the department was sent the resolutions that were supported by AWU Rangers. These resolutions are outlined below-
Fire Operations:
AWU members call on the department to give a commitment that they will –
• Undertake an immediate audit of the practices on fire lines and the steps that the department undertakes to ensure that their staff are supported and provided with appropriate sustenance while on participating in fire operations
• A review of the guidelines that exist for fire operations
Overtime:
Members supported resolutions opposing any attempts to force QPWS Rangers across Queensland to work unreasonable overtime.
It is important that managers are made aware of their legal obligations when they are attempting to force staff to work overtime.
AWU members believe that every possible option should be explored before any supervisor or manager makes a decision to direct an employee to perform overtime. Managers and supervisors should also be made aware that the direction must be reasonable.
It was made clear at the meeting to the management representatives, that the issues regarding inadequate support during fire operations and unreasonable requests for overtime were limited to only a few areas in the state.
What is important however, is that we all worked together to make sure that every Ranger in Queensland has the confidence to rely on the systems in place to support them on fire lines and also that they are not subject to unreasonable requests to undertake overtime.
Representation on the RIF:
After a request to have 7 union workplace delegates attend the RIF, management have agreed to 5 AWU delegates attending the RIF. Over the next two months delegates will be asked to consult with members regarding their views on this.
Frequency of RIF Meetings:
It was agreed at the RIF that meetings will occur every two months.
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AWU Representatives Meet with the Minister
On Monday 10/11/2009, AWU Senior Advocate Chris Simpson, workplace union delegate Roland Dowling and Organiser Troy Spence met with Kate Jones, the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability.
This meeting was an opportunity for everyone to discuss recent concerns that have been raised by Rangers on a number of fronts including staffing levels and the filling of vacancies.
The Minister was also informed of those issues that were raised at the RIF.
The Minister has a desire to maintain open dialogue with union members and has agreed to meet with AWU representatives early in 2010.
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Workplace Rights Update
Rangers Performing Overtime
From time to time, AWU Rangers will be asked to work overtime. In most cases, when these requests are made, Rangers are willing to perform the work at applicable overtime rates or, at their discretion, accept ATL.
Sometimes the overtime request is made at short notice, and therefore, due to personal circumstances and/or family obligations and/or prior commitments and/or fatigue, Rangers may inform the supervisor making the request that they are unable to perform this overtime.
There is generally an expectation that people will perform reasonable overtime.
What is “reasonable” is based on the individual circumstances and assessed on a case by case basis.
Some factors that are considered in making this assessment are personal circumstances, family obligations, prior commitments, previous overtime already worked, and fatigue. Other factors may be relevant to consider based on individual circumstances.
If you are concerned that you are being asked to perform “unreasonable” overtime, please contact your workplace delegate or your AWU local organiser.
To download copies of your Award and your current agreement, please visit www.awu.org.au/rangers/ and click on the “Know your Rights” section.
