CPSU Federal Office

Guidance Notes and Employment Directions are being issued across all State jurisdictions providing special paid leave for government employees arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus is a group of viruses which normally cause mild illness, with symptoms similar to a common cold. A new strain, COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in Hubei Province, China. It is very different from, and more serious than, the usual seasonal influenza outbreaks that happen every year. Symptoms can include a fever, fatigue, dry cough, difficulty breathing and will be accompanied by a fever. Symptoms take an average of 5 days to begin – this differs to flu viruses which tend to incubate very quickly.

Around the world corporations are cashing in by privatising public services including prisons and detention services - and with horrific results.  That's why PSI is launching a global campaign.  Privatisation is a disaster for workers, communities and for those detained in private prisons.  Private prisons consistently lead to worse conditions, under-staffing, overcrowding and warped incentives: more prison inmates means more profits.  Even w

Workers have been dealing with the bushfire crisis all summer whether directly fighting the fires or working to support fire affected communities with evacuation, loss and recovery.  We flew to Canberra for the Emergency Services Summit to air our views and put our ideas forward to tell the Morrison Government to stop the politics and get on with supporting people affected by the bushfires and rebuilding the country.  Our firefighting worker delegation was exhausted but each were excited to contribute their ideas.  Instead, workers were met with an empty seat from the Morrison Government as

Union members via their union can now make a Request for Financial Hardship Assistance through the ACTU's Bushfire Fund which has been established to provide short-term financial assistance to union members affected by 2019–20 bushfires. To qualify for assistance, a member needs to show that they have lost income as a result of the fires and have been unable to receive adequate compensation from other sources or have otherwise experienced severe financial hardship as a result of the fires.

Fires are burning out of control across five states as temperature records are being smashed and lives and properties being lost.  Kangaroo Island, in remote South Australia became the latest to suffer two more bushfire deaths bringing to 23 the number of people killed in fires across Australia this fire season. Six people are still missing in fire-affected regions across NSW and Victoria, who have had their east coasts devastated by out-of-control fires in rugged terrain that have destroyed more than 1,500 homes. There are also current fire warnings in Tasmania and Western Australia.

A large part of the work of the Federal Office has been assisting Branches with compliance obligations, case work, and advice ranging from liaising with the Fair Work Commission on Right of Entry permits.  Development continued for three branches on the new upgraded membership data base that went live in late November 2017.

Public Sector Union Leaders have pledged to end violence against women and through our global partner, PSI, we're saying that violence is not part of the job.  Through collective bargaining, negotiations, campaigns, and advocacy, unions have a positive impact on efforts to eliminate violence and harassment at work and good industrial relations practises are critical.  Our aim is to build momentum each year, and encourage everyone to stand up and sp

A brilliant presentation on Youth Justice at Federal Council from our teams in each State recognizing the challenges each jurisdiction faces are the same, and as such we need a national response on health safety and wellbeing for YJ staff in order to hold agencies accountable.

The current prosecution in Victoria and the plea on penalty attempt by the responsible agency as reported by the channel 9 journalist sums up the attitude to OHS by the agencies.

Unfortunately we have seen a series of serious workplace injuries and fatalities which have received significant public attention in the last several years.