BRIEF, AUSTRALIA
Tax office tries to axe conditions
Margarita Windisch
29 June 2009
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has called on Australian Taxation Office (ATO) staff to vote against a new agency agreement proposed by management. Voting was to place between June 23 and June 30.
The agreement would cut the conditions of all ATO workers, but would especially affect “non-ongoing” staff (those on short-term contracts).
Personal leave (including sick leave and carer’s leave) would be cut from 18 to 17 days a year for permanent workers, and to 12 days for non-ongoing staff.
Overtime rates would not be paid until 6.15pm for ongoing staff and until 9pm for non-ongoing staff. Now, overtime rates start at 6pm.
Job security is a key issue. Management has announced plans to replace ongoing employees by non-ongoing and labour-hire staff. The CPSU wants limits on the use of non-ongoing and labor-hire staff to be put into the agency agreement.
The Australian Services Union, which represents a small minority of ATO workers, has supported ATO management’s proposal. Some ASU members have resigned in protest and joined the CPSU.
