Mid-March already! We hope everyone is keeping well. We have a fair bit to report back in this update so it is a long one!

Union members have raised concerns about how the TO-translation affects annual increment dates and pay-points. If you need assistance please contact your union office.

A meeting had been scheduled last Thursday, 11 March, for Together to meet with the Principal Commissioner, Cheryl Vardon. We were meeting to discuss our members’ concerns about organisational changes occurring without consultation, and our concerns relating to the QFCC Future Ready. I was to attend this meeting alongside two of your fellow QFCC Together members who were volunteering to help make sure that workers had a strong and clear voice at the meeting.

Your workplace is a union workplace. This means that collectively you and your colleagues have the ability to improve your wages and conditions.

The meeting with AEIOU management has been cancelled. We have sent a letter which sought to extend the consultation period so that significant concerns regarding your job security, career progression safety and standard of care can be addressed. You can read it HERE.

This morning the Federal Government announced its aviation industry support package and in doing so turned its back on thousands of airline workers across Australia. The Government has announced it will not be extending JobKeeper, even in the industries that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic like airlines and tourism.

Yesterday we met with senior representatives of the Department at the Agency Consultative Committee. This is the peak consultative committee for the Department of Education.

At the meeting yesterday we raised the following issues and concerns based on delegate feedback. The Department also report on Organisational Change and Restructuring at this meeting, as well as labour hire/ contractor numbers.

EB Update – access period begins today 

All staff should have received an email from the Director-General late yesterday advising that the fully-drafted EB is available for staff to review, prior to the all-staff ballot that will commence in a fortnight’s time.