Centrelink workers endorse union bargaining position

BRISBANE — At workplace meetings held around the country in the early part of February, members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) employed in Centrelink overwhelmingly endorsed a union bargaining position for upcoming negotiations with management for a new enterprise agreement. The current agreement expires on October 1.

Among the key issues in the CPSU's position is opposition to the recent imposition by Centrelink of new rosters for call-centre workers, which are much less subject to employee choice than before.

The union is calling for annual pay rises of 5% and additional allowances for special skills. It also calls for annual recreation leave to be increased from four to five weeks.

Bill Mason

From Green Left Weekly, March 23, 2005.

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From GLW issue 620