Australian Taxation Office (ATO) workers around Australia, members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), went on strike for two hours on the morning of September 18. The strike followed the breakdown of negotiations for a new agency agreement.

Management wants the right to impose compulsory rostering throughout the ATO to ensure that all phone lines are open from 8am to 6pm. The CPSU insists on voluntary rosters. The union wants guaranteed job security for workers in the lower levels of the public service hierarchy who are threatened with redundancy over the next year or two. It is also concerned that the proposed pay rise of 8.5% over two years is conditional on meeting a range of “corporate indicators”.

Picket lines were established outside most ATO buildings around Australia. At Box Hill in Melbourne, 100 people were on the picket line by 10.20 am. At Moonee Ponds, the crowd reached 70-80. Northbridge had over 250 people.

Before the workers entered the buildings to start work at 10.30am, union meetings were held outside each office. Members voted to continue the campaign with work-to-rule tactics. Further meetings are to be held during the week beginning October 14 to consider further industrial action during the week starting October 21 if there is no progress in negotiations.

From Green Left Weekly, September 25, 2002.
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