Hello members,

Today we’re alerting you to changes made last week to the Fair Work Act that may impact you. The changes reduce the minimum time allowed for employers to vary an Enterprise Agreement (EBA) to one day. This means that employers can ask workers to vote on changes with one day of notice.

The change means that workers may not have time to fully understand how the changes impact you – and union officials may not have the time needed to properly analyse the proposed changes.

The types of changes that could happen include lowering your pay or reducing your paid sick leave days.

Contact HACSU as soon as you hear of any proposed changes to your EBA or votes taking place.

Check your inbox to read more about this issue in an email soon.

Today HACSU State Secretary Paul Healey met with Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos to discuss some of the issues raised by HACSU members, including workers who can work from home but have been asked to continue to do so at their usual workplace and re-use of face shields. We also thanked Minister Mikakos for her and her department’s help last week in supporting HACSU members. The Minster advised there is a potential that some elective surgeries will be resuming soon. She also explained that whilst 167 healthcare workers have tested positive, the majority of these have not contracted the illness at work.

The Minister continues to advocate at a national level, in discussions with Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, regarding HACSU members concerns including in the disability sector. We were asked to remind HACSU members that testing for COVID-19 has been broadened to allow for anyone in the community who exhibits one symptom, including either acute respiratory illness or fever. If you’re showing symptoms, don’t go to work – get tested and self-quarantine until you receive your result. The Minister also advised us that modelling for infection rates in Australia is showing positive results and wanted to share her thanks to HACSU members for your efforts in helping to curb the infection rates, and for the work you do to support vulnerable Victorians.

HACSU leaders are continuing to work on the log of issues raised with the Department of Health and Human Services. We’ll continue to bring updates to members as more information becomes available from The DHHS and Worksafe.

Worksafe today also launched a new COVID-19 website that includes information regarding health and safety at work in light of this pandemic. You can find out more here.

In unity,

HACSU.